William Lloyd-Lavery: Assault trial of former history teacher continues

William Lloyd-Lavery: Assault trial of former history teacher continues

A former history teacher is currently on trial, accused of indecently assaulting several teenage girls at a grammar school in south Belfast during the 1970s. Among those giving evidence was a woman who stated that she experienced terror throughout the abuse. The trial concerns William Lloyd-Lavery, aged 77, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, who faces charges including nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency occurring between 1974 and 1979. Lloyd-Lavery denies all allegations made against him.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Lloyd-Lavery was teaching history at Richmond Lodge School. During the court proceedings, the jury viewed a recorded Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interview. These interviews are conducted by the PSNI and video-recorded to capture complainants’ testimony. The interview featured a woman now in her 60s, who recounted several incidents of abuse that she said took place on the school premises.

In one specific part of her statement, the woman described an occasion when she was sexually assaulted by Lloyd-Lavery inside a dark storeroom. She recalled that he asked her, “Do you mind me doing this?”—a phrase she said had become “ingrained” in her memory over the years. This disturbing encounter forms part of the allegations brought against the accused teacher.

Richmond Lodge School, where the incidents allegedly happened, merged with Victoria College in 1987. The school was originally situated on the site currently occupied by Victoria College’s junior campus on Malone Road in Belfast. The trial continues as the court hears further evidence relating to the claims made against William Lloyd-Lavery

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