Crime & Law

Former DUP mayor convicted on child sexual offence charge

Thomas Hogg (32) convicted of trying to incite a schoolboy to take part in sexual activity

Laganside Crown Court File image: Google Street View At Belfast Magistrates’ Court, Thomas Hogg, with an address at Brae Hill Park in Belfast, was accused of intentionally inciting a child aged between 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity on a date in September 2019.
Laganside Crown Court File image: Google Street View At Belfast Magistrates’ Court, Thomas Hogg, with an address at Brae Hill Park in Belfast, was accused of intentionally inciting a child aged between 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity on a date in September 2019.
Alan Erwin
Thu Mar 04 2021 - 22:10

A former Democratic Unionist Party mayor has been convicted of trying to incite a schoolboy to take part in sexual activity.

Thomas Hogg (32) denied the charge during a trial hearing at Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

Hogg, with an address at Brae Hill Park in Belfast, was accused of intentionally inciting a child aged between 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity on a date in September 2019.

He was reportedly arrested at a music festival in Valley Park, Newtownabbey.

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The former mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council resigned from the DUP and stood down as a councillor after criminal proceedings were brought against him. Hogg is now understood to live elsewhere in UK.

Questioned by defence barrister Mark Farrell, he strongly denied sending any messages to the complainant. Under cross-examination he insisted that he had no memory of carrying out any such actions.

However, district judge Ted Magill convicted him of the single charge and ordered pre-sentence reports. The case has been listed for sentencing on March 12th. It is unclear at this stage if Hogg plans to mount an appeal.