A disgraced former primary school headmaster who set up a paedophile sex ring with teenage boys he met through a gay internet chatroom was jailed for four years today.
Jude Lynch (44), of Learmount Road, Park Co Derry, was jailed at Antrim Crown Court after pleading guilty to 33 charges of indecent assault, gross indecency and attempted buggery.
His offences involved three boys who were aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offences in 2002 and 2003.
Lynch was suspended as principal of the Good Shepherd Primary School in Derry after being charged and resigned his post last October.
The court heard yesterday that his paedophile activities were only unmasked when the mother of one of the boys involved discovered entries in her son's diary and became alarmed.
Sentencing Lynch, Judge David Smyth, said that his career and probably his life were in ruins.
He said he would have given Lynch the higher sentence except for the fact he had pleaded guilty, the boys had been willing participants, and two of them were sexually experienced.
The court heard that the married former teacher had set up meetings with the boys, and two co-defendants, at luxury hotels, including Jury's in Belfast and the Galgorm Manor outside Ballymena, Co Antrim.
The judges said although there was no inducement, the boys would have been impressed by the locations because of their ages and their modest backgrounds.
He said Lynch would have to sign the sex offenders' register and remain on it for life and never work with children again.
Judge Smyth set the tariff of four years in prison, together with 18 months extra held in reserve, after Lynch agreed to undergo a three-year course of treatment recommended by his probation officer.
Co-defendant Ryan Mcinnes (24), of Westwinds Terrace, Annahilt, Co Down, was given an eight-month sentence suspended for two years after admitting two sex offences. He was put on the register for seven years.
Richard Scott (22), of Parklands in Antrim Town was sentenced to eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to four offences. He was ordered to sign and remain on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
The court heard that none of the boys involved in the paedophile ring were former pupils of Lynch.
PA