Justice Minister statement

Justice Minister Naomi Long has commented following the conclusion of the Alexander McCartney case.

The Minister said:
"I want to welcome the outcome in this utterly devastating case. The level of depravity, deviousness and utter disregard Alexander McCartney demonstrated for his young victims was horrifying; and those victims, not all of whom will ever be able to be identified, deserved justice to be done.

"I want to pay tribute to the investigating officers and PPS for pursuing this as vigorously and thoroughly as they did and for ensuring that McCartney was held accountable for the death of one of his young victims. Those officers and prosecutors have been exposed to things in this case that no person should ever have to see and I want to pay tribute to their fortitude and courage.

"McCartney committed his vile crimes behind a cloak of online anonymity, but through a comprehensive and robust operation across the criminal justice system he has been exposed as the vile and prolific child sexual predator that he truly is.

"Such partnership working, including across jurisdictions, has been key to a case that again highlights the need for further strengthening of legislation around online spaces to protect children from serious harm and identify other online abusers.

"There is a comprehensive and robust framework of law on sexual offences in place in Northern Ireland which includes a range of offences aimed at protecting children. While telecommunications is a reserved matter, we are engaging fully with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom on the implementation and regulation of the Online Safety Act 2023 to make the online world safer for children and ensure tech firms take more responsibility to manage their platform's content and protect children from illegal harm.

"I hope that today's sentencing will also serve as a deterrent and a reminder to other predators that online abuse is not beyond the reach of the law.

"However, above all else, today my thoughts are with the family and friends of Cimarron Thomas. She, and McCartney's other victims, deserved never to be exposed to his depravity, cruelty and abuse. Nothing can heal the wounds he has inflicted on his victims and their families, but I hope that seeing him held to account for his actions brings some small comfort to them."

Notes to editors:

1. Media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office via email to: [email protected]

2. Follow the department on Twitter/X @Justice_NI

3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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