A school teacher lost his appeal yesterday against a jail sentence of nine years for abusing young boys at his school. The Appeal Court in Belfast held that the sentence imposed on John Patrick Berry (51), of Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, was not excessive.
Berry was sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court last November after he pleaded guilty to 47 charges of indecent assault and 18 of gross indecency. Lord Justice MacDermott said that over a period of 21 years Berry had abused 16 boys aged between six and 10.