Margaret Hewitt

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Margaret Hewitt was convicted of numerous sexual offences, including rape, in relation to her work at a care home for children in Newtownabbey. On appeal, one alleged victim (known as R) wrote a series of letters to social workers in which he retracted the allegations that he had made at trial. When asked about the letters he said that it was true that he and the others who had given evidence at trial had lied.He said allegations against Hewitt had been made up because he was trying to get his own back. He also claimed he had told his sister, another complainant, what to say. He later said that his account at trial was true and he had made up the retractions for attention. These statements meant that R could not be considered a credible witness. R’s evidence could also have contaminated the evidence of other witnesses.In these circumstances it was found that none of the counts could safely stand, and the convictions were quashed.

View Press (news.bbc.co.uk)

View Press (news.bbc.co.uk)

View Press (news.bbc.co.uk)

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