A jury at Belfast Crown Court has determined that a former police officer committed the acts of sexually abusing a teenage boy in the 1980s.
After deliberating for under an hour, the jury unanimously concluded that 91-year old Albert Burns ‘did the act’ on seven counts of indecent assault.
Burns - a former CID officer in the RUC - was excused from attending the trial at Belfast Crown Court following an assessment that his dementia rendered him incapable of attending or understanding the trial process.
From Carnmoney Road in Newtownabbey, the pensioner was charged with, and denied, all seven offences which were committed over dates between January 3 1987 and January 4 1989.
His victim was aged between 13 and 15 when he was sexually abused by Burns.
During the short trial ‘to determine the facts’, the jury heard that Burns targeted the teenager over a two-year period.
The abuse occurred in the bedroom and bathroom of the victim’s Co Antrim home.
At the time, he didn’t disclose what was happening to him as Burns told him he wouldn’t be believed.
He subsequently told a friend and then he reported the matter to the PSNI in 2019.
During an interview with police, the victim spoke of what he endured in his teens and said that as a child he was afraid of his abuser.
As a result of the complainant’s allegations, Burns was interviewed by the PSNI in July 2020 when he denied the claims which he branded as a ‘bundle of lies’ and ‘made up.’
Before the jury was sent out to deliberate, defence barrister Neil Moore pointed out that his client Burns had a clear criminal record and was a “man of good character”.
He added that there were “no witnesses” and “no forensic evidence” and urged them to exercise “some caution”.
Rejecting Burns claims of innocence, the jury returned verdicts that he ‘did the act’ on all seven counts of historic sexual abuse.
Following this, Judge Gordon Kerr KC addressed the jury and said: “That concludes your role in this case. Thank you for your careful attention and you are now free to go.”
Mr Moore then spoke of the “limited disposals” available to the court and said he was seeking reports.
Judge Kerr said “I will direct such reports that are required” and re-listed the case on March 5 “for determination.”