George Hendry

George Hendry, an 84-year-old resident of Serpentine Parade in north Belfast, Northern Ireland, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment at Belfast Crown Court for a series of historical child abuse offences committed while he worked as deputy manager at Palmerston Assessment Centre (PAC) in east Belfast.

The offences occurred over a 14-week period between 14 November 1980 and 20 February 1981. Hendry was found guilty in October 2025 of four counts of indecent assault and two other serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16. At the time, the victim was 15 years old and placed at PAC, which served as an initial assessment centre for children requiring social care under the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSB) network.

During his tenure, Hendry often worked night shifts as the sole staff member on duty, providing opportunities for the abuse. The trial revealed that the sexual assaults took place in the victim's bedroom, with Hendry threatening the boy not to disclose the incidents, warning that he would be sent to Rathgael, a training school for young people in Bangor, County Down.

Judge Catherine Chasemore highlighted the aggravating factors in her sentencing remarks, including the victim's young age, Hendry's position of trust as a staff member responsible for protection, and the repeated nature of the offending. She described the case as involving high culpability and high harm, noting the profound impact on the victim's mental health, which led to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

• A pre-sentence report by the Probation Board assessed Hendry as having a high likelihood of reoffending but not posing an immediate danger to the public.
• Hendry denied the offences and showed no remorse.
• He had prior convictions for similar offences in the late 1970s and early 1980s, for which he had not previously received a custodial sentence.

The judge determined that the seriousness of the offending warranted a custodial sentence. In addition to the 11-year term, Hendry was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely but was not subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Richard Maguire from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) stated: "Hendry used his position as a member of staff in a children's home to abuse a boy who he should have been protecting." The PPS emphasised its commitment to pursuing historical sexual abuse cases, encouraging victims to come forward regardless of the time elapsed.

This case underscores the long-term pursuit of justice for child sexual abuse within institutional settings in Northern Ireland, as reported by the BBC on 15 December 2025.