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Teacher Stephen Downes convicted of child cruelty at special needs school Teacher Stephen Downes convicted of child cruelty at special needs school
(about 1 hour later)
A teacher accused of cruelty to children in a special needs school in County Antrim has been found guilty of two of the five charges against him. A special needs teacher has been found guilty of cruelty to children after he assaulted two 12-year-old girls who have severe learning difficulties.
Stephen Downes, from Glebe Gardens in Moira, is a 59-year-old teacher at Parkview Special School, Lisburn. Stephen Downes, from Glebe Gardens in Moira, is a teacher at Parkview Special School, Lisburn, County Antrim.
He had denied hitting a girl on the face after she took another pupil's milk. He also denied assaulting a girl who then fell against a radiator . He had denied hitting a child's face after she took another pupil's milk. He also denied assaulting a second girl who then fell against a radiator .
Parents of the two children said they were glad justice had been done.Parents of the two children said they were glad justice had been done.
They added that the case had been very difficult for their families.They added that the case had been very difficult for their families.
Two of the five charges against the teacher were dropped during the hearing at Lisburn Magistrates court on Tuesday, but he was found guilty of two of the other three charges. The children both attend Parkview Special School where Downes has been a senior teacher since 1997.
The offences took place in late 2010 and early 2011.
He had faced a total of five charges but the judge at Lisburn magistrates court dismissed three of them and found him guilty of two charges.
Downes is due to be sentenced on 10 May.Downes is due to be sentenced on 10 May.