Restraining order for ex-RUC man who abused boy in 80s

A five-year restraining order has been imposed on a former RUC man convicted of committing the acts of sexually abusing a teenage boy in the 1980s.

Albert Burns, who is 91 and from Carnmoney Road in Newtownabbey, was excused from attending the sentence hearing due to ill health.

In his absence, Burns was handed an absolute discharge for the sexual abuse and was banned from contacting his victim for five years.

In January, a trial to determine the facts regarding seven charges of indecent assault was held at Belfast Crown Court.

The court was told that due to dementia he was incapable of understanding the trial process.

His victim was aged between 13 and 15 when he was sexually abused.

The former CID officer had denied all seven offences, which were committed between 3 January 1987 and 4 January 1989.

The abuse occurred in the bedroom and bathroom of the victim's County Antrim home.

At the time, he did not disclose what was happening to him as Burns told him he would not be believed.

He reported the matter to the PSNI in 2019.