A man from Lurgan has been sentenced to five years in prison for the sexual abuse of six children.

Patrick Lavery, aged 40, was sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court on Thursday, 4 September 2025, after being found guilty of multiple offences including gross indecency and indecent assault.

The abuse took place over a decade, between 1999 and 2009, when the victims were as young as six years old. Lavery was arrested in February 2024 and, following a trial, was convicted in June. He will serve half of his sentence in custody and the remainder on licence. Detective Inspector Chris Flemming described Lavery as a "cold, calculating and incredibly manipulative child predator." He praised the "bravery of the victims" for coming forward and said that the sentence, he hoped, would give others who have suffered the confidence to break their silence.

A Sexual Offences Prevention Order has also been imposed on Lavery for a period of ten years, and he will be placed on the sex offenders register for the remainder of his life. Police are continuing to encourage anyone with information to contact them on 101 or 999 in an emergency.