Posted by LOCKED UP |
Sex attacker who drove to court because he thought he would walk free is JAILED
Neil Mooney’s victim said she was “happy” and “relieved” at the sentence he received,
Today at 19:41
Twisted pervert Neil Mooney was so sure he wasn’t going to jail for sexually assaulting his stepdaughter that he drove himself to court this week, we can reveal.
But a judge at Newry Crown Court told the sex monster he had committed the “ultimate betrayal” when he assaulted her when she was just a child.
As we reported last month, the 38-year-old had been found guilty by a jury. However, Mooney continued telling everyone he had been cleared and that his stepdaughter was a liar.
However, on Thursday, Mooney’s lies came home to roost when he was jailed for 14 months, though seven of those will be served on licence.
His victim told the Sunday World he had plied her with drink when she was just 13 and sexually assaulted her.
She bravely took to the witness box to tell the court the horrors he had put her through.
Mooney, from Hunters Hill Park, Gilford, had been telling people in the Co Armagh town that he was acquitted, hiding behind the fact he thought the case wouldn’t be made public to protect the identity of his victim who is now in her mid-20s.
But his victim, while not wanting her name mentioned in the paper, waived her right to anonymity and spoke to the Sunday World last month to set the record straight.
Last night she told us she was “happy” and “relieved” at the sentence he received, but explained how he had left her suffering from seizures which blight her for the rest of her life.
“Having told everyone he had been acquitted, he couldn’t do that anymore after the Sunday World article, but he kept telling everyone he wasn’t going to go to prison for it,” said his victim.
“And he was so sure of it he drove himself to court. He obviously thought he’d be driving home afterwards but he’s not going to be driving anywhere for the foreseeable future.
“I am so happy and relieved with the outcome as I had prepared myself for the worst, that he’d be walking out a free man.
“Thankfully Neil got jail time. It certainly shocked him as he smirked the whole way through until he was told he’d be jailed for 14 months.
“From being told by police officers that nothing could come from this to getting to where I am today, I’m so pleased with myself for being strong and trusting the jury during the process.
“To think I was in rehab this time last year and at a very low point in my life, I just wanted it to be over and now I’m finally here. I’m just so happy.
“After he was found guilty he told people he was only going to get community service.”
The woman, who also told the Sunday World she was now able to get on with her life and was expecting her first child with her partner, says she had some issues with what was said in court in mitigation for Mooney.
“He had 15 character references, describing him as a brilliant father
“I don’t know where they got this from because, in my opinion, a ‘brilliant father’ would never touch an under-age child, sexually, that they called their own.
“He was also described as a hard-working man but he has never paid tax and has been working cash jobs like window cleaning while claiming DLA and PIP since 2007. He’s an out-and-out liar.”
Mooney was convicted two months ago of one count of sexual assault.
On Thursday, as well as being jailed for one year and two months, he was told he would have to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, he was disqualified from working with children and was also slapped with a 10-year restraining order to prevent him harassing his victim or her mum.
Mooney is due back at Newry Courthouse accused of three counts of common assault against three separate women in January 2022.
His stepdaughter told the Sunday World she had been put through hell after being attacked by Mooney as a child.
“I’ve now developed seizures caused by over-thinking and stress hey happen when I’m really upset or can’t sleep due to what he to me and I’ll probably be on that medication for the rest of my life.
“It really has impacted me. Every time I take a seizure I have to give up my driving licence for six months. And now that I’m pregnant, I’m at high risk.”
Her mum also spoke to the Sunday World to say how proud she was of her daughter.
“The judge served justice to a man that manipulates people for a living,” she said.
“I just wish now not to focus on that monster. Instead I want to say how proud I am of my daughter and I’d say to her you continue to inspire me every day bird, you are the strongest woman I know.”
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