Abuse brothers enter Londonderry hospital

TWO brothers at the centre of a child abuse scandal have been admitted to a psychiatric unit in Londonderry.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust confirmed that James and Owen Roe McDermott had entered the unit voluntarily-but would not comment any further due to patient confidentiality.

The brothers were declared unfit to stand trial on a litany of sex abuse charges in June and were permitted to return home.

Between them, four of the McDermott brothers, from Moorlough Road in Donagh, County Fermanagh, faced 60 charges spanning over five decades.

John McDermott was jailed for nine years in June for the abuse, which was described as frequent and persistent. Another brother, Peter Paul McDermott took his own life during his trial on charges for the abuse of two young boys.

Anger had grown in the village when James and Owen Roe McDermott were allowed to return home. On Monday night, a heated and heavily attended meeting saw many of Donagh’s resident vent their spleen on the issue.

The two McDermott brothers live in close proximity to a school playground.

The decision to enter care in Londonderry may have helped diffuse the situation, but as the decision was taken voluntarily, technically they can leave at anytime.