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28/11/2012
Rugby Star Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse
Former Ireland and Ulster rugby star David Tweed has been convicted of child sex abuse charges.
The 53-year-old railway supervisor and Ballymena councillor was standing trial at Antrim Court.
The retired rugby international faced 14 counts of sexually abusing two young girls over an eight-year period from 1988.
Tweed, who is a father of four, has continually denied the charges that he abused the two girls, who are both now adults.
On Tuesday, Tweed was cleared of one count of indecent assault, but the jury had retired to consider the remaining charges
Judge Alistair Devlin asked if there was any chance of reaching a majority verdict on the remaining counts.
He was told the jury could could reach a majority verdict on the three other charges if they were given more time.
This was the second time Mr Tweed has faced child sex abuse allegations. In 2009 he was found unanimously not guilty of 10 counts of sex abuse against two different young girls.
None of the victims were in the courtroom as the verdicts were given. But friends and family members of the victims were there to hear the jury’s decision.
Mr Tweed played five times for Ireland, including in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
He played for Ulster and made over 30 appearances during the 1980s and 1990s.
(IT)
The 53-year-old railway supervisor and Ballymena councillor was standing trial at Antrim Court.
The retired rugby international faced 14 counts of sexually abusing two young girls over an eight-year period from 1988.
Tweed, who is a father of four, has continually denied the charges that he abused the two girls, who are both now adults.
On Tuesday, Tweed was cleared of one count of indecent assault, but the jury had retired to consider the remaining charges
Judge Alistair Devlin asked if there was any chance of reaching a majority verdict on the remaining counts.
He was told the jury could could reach a majority verdict on the three other charges if they were given more time.
This was the second time Mr Tweed has faced child sex abuse allegations. In 2009 he was found unanimously not guilty of 10 counts of sex abuse against two different young girls.
None of the victims were in the courtroom as the verdicts were given. But friends and family members of the victims were there to hear the jury’s decision.
Mr Tweed played five times for Ireland, including in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
He played for Ulster and made over 30 appearances during the 1980s and 1990s.
(IT)
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