Skip to content

James McKeever victim recalls 'horrendous abuse'

A woman who was abused by former Derry deputy mayor James McKeever says she hates him for what he did to her.

The former SDLP councillor has been convicted of eight offences dating back to the 1980s.

The woman, who spoke to BBC News NI's north west correspondent Keiron Tourish, said she was quiet and withdrawn as a result of the abuse, but is now out the other side and will become stronger.

McKeever will be sentenced in the autumn.

27 May 2022

Londonderry-Derry

Explore More

Michael McKinney - a man with short white hair wearing frameless glasses is talking outside of a white stone building.

'Soldier F trial must proceed without delay'

Northern Ireland

Chloe Wilson, a woman with blonde hair

Sexual assault survivor wants to be voice for others

Northern Ireland

Gillian Kearney speaking at a police press conference. There is a green PSNI banner behind her and four microphones in front. She is in uniform and has blonde hair, which is tied back.

Increased police presence in Derry after attacks

Northern Ireland

Claire Sugden has long dark hair and is wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans as she talks to the camera. She is sitting on a brown leather sofa with family photographs on the unit behind her.

Politician 'really struggled' with postnatal anxiety

Northern Ireland

Two football pawns on a green table-top. One wearing green and white football kit, the other wearing black and yellow

Garden shed helping players prepare for World Cup

Northern Ireland

A man is standing in front of a number of coloured microphones. He is wearing a dark coloured blazer and a white shirt. He has dark hair and a beard.

Colum Eastwood stands down as leader of the SDLP

Northern Ireland Politics

Ch Insp Anthony Kelly in navy suit and patterned white shirt

'We know this brutal murder has caused great concern'

Northern Ireland

A petrol bomb is thrown at riot police in Nailors Row, Derry

Ten officers injured during Londonderry disorder

Northern Ireland

Knitted orange order style doll with an orange sash and black bowler hat

'Today means so much to me'

Northern Ireland

Eastwood affirms allegiance to King 'under protest'

Northern Ireland Politics

Given up for adoption, Billy Scampton didn't know he had a sister. But the Derry man was overjoyed to meet Shannon Leet from Ontario earlier this month.

'All the years of sadness were swept away'

Northern Ireland

Princess Anne

Princess Anne 'really down to earth' on NI visit

Northern Ireland

A woman who feared she was having a heart attack said she spent nine days in a hospital staff room because of a shortage of beds

'Nine days in a hospital staff room was dehumanising'

Northern Ireland

Mickey McKinney

Soldier F Bloody Sunday trial 'is one day at a time'

Northern Ireland

Ciarán Shiels

Sex conviction was 'grave miscarriage of justice'

Northern Ireland

Harry Feeney

'IRA told my sister's killer to plant bomb to forget'

Northern Ireland

Witches

Four days of frights and freaks in Derry

Northern Ireland

Christopher Hegarty

'I'll never forget my cousin's shooting'

Northern Ireland

LIttle by Logan smiling

'It's a beautiful message to the rest of the pupils'

Keyframe #3

'The centre taught me how to be the best mum'

Northern Ireland

Three young men stand around a Christmas tree in the yard of a farm. A brown and white goat is leaning over a fence eating the tree.

Social farming creates opportunities for people with additional needs

Young adults have been learning the ins-and-outs of rural life through social farming schemes.

Northern Ireland

Kevin Murphy wearing a navy O'Neills branded coast and green zip jumper underneath. he is standing in front of rocks and grassy hills

Winter solstice shining new light on Slieve Gullion history

Dozens will summit Slieve Gullion on Saturday to watch dawn break on the shortest day of the year.

Northern Ireland

Craig Ballentine at Dublin Airport, he has short light hair and a beard. He is smiling at the camera and wearing an orange hoodie and a blue back pack

Return from Dubai 'a Christmas miracle'

Craig Ballentine was arrested in Abu Dhabi airport in October because he posted critical comments about his former employer in Dubai.

Northern Ireland

Elizabeth McKillion and Margaret McRory both recently turned 100 years old

Turning 100 with my neighbour: 'Awk they made a mistake!'

Elizabeth McKillion and Margaret McRory both recently turned 100 years old.

Northern Ireland

Manchester United footballer Kobbie Mainoo is on the left hand side speaking to John Nellis on the right. Mainoo is wearing a white hoodie with red lettering. Nellis is in a black t-shirt and has a beard and short, shaven hair

Belfast YouTuber rubbing shoulders with Mbappé

Northern Ireland

Boy playing esports, large computer game screen

Esports 'is the fastest growing industry in the world'

Young people at the special school in north Belfast are studying towards a qualification in esports.

Northern Ireland

Andrea Nelson speaking into press mics, she has short blonde hair and is wearing a pair of black glasses. She has a burgundy coat on with a neutral scarf. Behind her are three men dressed in long coats and scarves.

La Mon investigation 'really challenging for the families'

A Police Ombudsman report has been unable to explain why records from the original police investigation were lost.

Northern Ireland

Stella McLoughlin - a woman with blonde hair sits in a grey sofa looking at the camera.

'This has been an absolute scandal from start to finish'

Stella McLoughlin from the campaign group Ladies with Letters says what has happened was unforgivable.

Northern Ireland

A woman is speaking into a number of news microphones, branded with the logos of various broadcasters. She is reading a statement from a sheet of paper she is holding in both hands. She is wearing a brown jacket, pink shirt and has black glasses and long blonde hair.

'Heinous predator' sentenced for abuse offences

Police say David John Andrews was a "heinous predator" who groomed young girls across the UK.

Northern Ireland

Man draped in Syrian flag outside broadcasting house, red brick buildings in background, with crowd celebrating in background

'I'm going to go back and hopefully build Syria all over again'

Crowds have gathered in cities across the world as many Syrians celebrate the fall of the Syrian government.

Northern Ireland

Rapper Smack Jay stands in the middle of a classroom with a microphone in his hand. A number of schoolchildren wearing red school hoodies are watching him.

'The best way to make change is through music'

Rapper and activist Smack Jay from Zambia brought his flows to Rathcoole Primary as part of Human Rights Week.

Northern Ireland

west belfast schoolboys in grey uniform sat around table looking at paperwrk

The schoolboys tackling violence against women and girls

Schoolboys in west Belfast have been learning about how to recognise and tackle violence against women and girls.

Northern Ireland

Olivia McVeigh - a young woman with long blonde hair looks at the camera while sat on a grey sofa in a white room

'I wanted to create a safe space for those with alopecia'

Olivia McVeigh, from County Tyrone, has been named on BBC's 100 Women 2024 list.

Northern Ireland

Kevin Sinfield - a man wears an orange headband with MND written on it in white and blue fonts while smiling. He is stood in front of a large blue MND banner.

Sinfield brings MND running challenge to Belfast

Kevin Sinfield is running 230 miles across the UK to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease.

Northern Ireland

Protesters holding up placards with the Palestinian flag on them standing at the front of a cathedral. A priest in purple robs is standing behind an alter behind them.

Priest responds to pro-Palestinian protest

About 30 pro-Palestinian demonstrators interrupted a service at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.

Northern Ireland

DJ Próvaí wearing a green, white and orange balaclava

'Kneecap win is a victory for freedom of expression'

Belfast rap group Kneecap has won its discrimination case against the UK government.

Northern Ireland

Emma, with long brown hair and wearing a purple hoody, looks to the side of the camera

How schools can help bereaved pupils with grief

Emma, who lost her brother, says it can be "overwhelming" to deal with grief alongside school work.

Northern Ireland

Tom Hadden sits on a grey sofa. He is wearing a stripey top.

'Rural road crash changed my life'

Tom Hadden was driving a bin lorry down a country road when another truck collided with his vehicle.

Northern Ireland

A woman with straight blonde hair looks to the side of the camera. She is wearing a blue t-shirt and necklace.

Parents of SEN young people call for support

Currently pupils with special educational needs do not receive automatic support to continue in education when they leave school.

Northern Ireland

Memorial stone in Ballyatrick forest to Inga Maria Hauser. Bouquets of flowers have been placed around the stone

Murdered backpacker's family hopeful over inquest

Eighteen-year-old Inga Maria Hauser's body was found in Ballypatrick forest in County Antrim in 1988.

Northern Ireland