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| Abuse victim names church figure | Abuse victim names church figure |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A victim of sex abuse has gone public to reveal that her attacker is a prominent member of her local Presbyterian Church in north Antrim. | |
| Simone Walker, 24, was abused as a child by an older cousin, Ivor Hogg. | Simone Walker, 24, was abused as a child by an older cousin, Ivor Hogg. |
| The incidents happened when she was aged between five and 11. Miss Walker has waived her right to anonymity. | The incidents happened when she was aged between five and 11. Miss Walker has waived her right to anonymity. |
| Hogg, 31, from Greenville Avenue in Ballymoney, admitted three indecent assaults and received a suspended sentence earlier this month. | Hogg, 31, from Greenville Avenue in Ballymoney, admitted three indecent assaults and received a suspended sentence earlier this month. |
| Miss Walker said the age difference between them was too wide to be youthful experimentation. | Miss Walker said the age difference between them was too wide to be youthful experimentation. |
| "He took my childhood away from me - nobody deserves to go through this," she said. | "He took my childhood away from me - nobody deserves to go through this," she said. |
| When he was charged in 2006, Hogg resigned as a Sunday School teacher and Boys Brigade leader at Drumreagh Presbyterian, near Ballymoney. | When he was charged in 2006, Hogg resigned as a Sunday School teacher and Boys Brigade leader at Drumreagh Presbyterian, near Ballymoney. |
| Ivor Hogg said he wanted to move on with his lifeHe still holds a senior position as a committee member, but the Presbyterian Church hierarchy in Belfast is unhappy and wants him removed. | Ivor Hogg said he wanted to move on with his lifeHe still holds a senior position as a committee member, but the Presbyterian Church hierarchy in Belfast is unhappy and wants him removed. |
| It has also condemned verbal abuse Miss Walker received in court from some members of the congregation. | It has also condemned verbal abuse Miss Walker received in court from some members of the congregation. |
| Miss Walker said she felt intimidated by the language used in court. "My barrister said she has never seen such an outburst in all her years of court - these people are meant to be Christians," she said. | Miss Walker said she felt intimidated by the language used in court. "My barrister said she has never seen such an outburst in all her years of court - these people are meant to be Christians," she said. |
| Hogg's family said in a statement that he had shown remorse and was "hoping to move on with his life". | Hogg's family said in a statement that he had shown remorse and was "hoping to move on with his life". |
| "The support and counselling provided by our denomination is much valued and has already been a source of restoration as we collectively help each other pick up the pieces," they said. | "The support and counselling provided by our denomination is much valued and has already been a source of restoration as we collectively help each other pick up the pieces," they said. |