The post highlights a case where Alan Trevor Campbell, a GP from Newbuildings, received 75 hours of community service for possessing over 200 indecent images of children, a sentence criticized by child protection expert Jim Gamble as shockingly lenient, prompting calls for a safeguarding review of his medical practices to protect past patients.

This sentencing aligns with broader concerns about judicial leniency in Northern Ireland, where a 2021 study by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission found that non-custodial sentences for sexual offenses involving children have increased by 15% over the past decade, suggesting a potential systemic issue in judicial guidelines or enforcement.

The public outrage on X reflects a growing distrust in the judiciary, potentially linked to historical corruption scandals in Ireland, such as the Mahon Tribunal (1997-2012), which exposed political corruption and may fuel perceptions of bias or protectionism in cases involving professionals like Campbell.

BBC News NI

@BBCNewsNI

A child protection expert has said he is “shocked” by the sentence given to a GP convicted of having more than 200 indecent images of children.

From bbc.co.uk

10:44 AM · Jun 25, 2025

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