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Former Crossmaglen GAA treasurer pleads guilty to 139 serious sexual offences

Thomas McKenna Crossmaglen

A County Armagh man has pleaded guilty to a total of 139 serious sexual offences against 20 male victims.

Thomas McKenna, a former treasurer of Crossmaglen GAA, is due to be sentenced later this year.

The 62-year-old, whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison, had been facing multiple trials for offences which ranged from indecent and sexual assault, voyeurism, gross indecency with a child and making indecent images.

The offending took place over a 29-year span December 1989 until August of 2018 when he was arrested.

He had previously admitted to 23 of the charges.

Previous courts have heard that the “serious and complex investigation” involved victims who say McKenna either sexually abused them or took photos and videos of them without their permission.

Police searches led to the recovery of devices said to contain 43,000 still images and 8,000 short video clips – some allegedly taken covertly.

As some of the victims watched proceedings remotely the presiding judge said McKenna would be “punished severely” at sentencing.

McKenna was taken back into custody to awaiting sentencing later this year.

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