A former police officer has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after exposing and rubbing his genitals while in the same bed as a 10-year-old girl. Ryan McKenna, now 43, committed the abuse when he was 25, before he became a police officer, Dungannon Crown Court heard on Tuesday.
Judge Greene described the abuse as occurring “in a breach of trust situation” and noted that it required planning, with arrangements made for the child to sleep in his bed. McKenna, whose address was listed as Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) headquarters in Knock, was found guilty of gross indecency with or towards a child on an unknown date between November 2004 and February 2009.
Victim's Bravery and Impact Statement
In an anonymous statement, the victim, now an adult, said: “No child should ever experience what I did. If speaking out protects even one child, then it was worth the pain and hurt I’ve endured.” She added: “I am exhausted and whilst the impact of what happened will stay with me for the rest of my life, being heard and believed matters to me. Receiving justice for what was done to me has given me hope for the future.”
She thanked the PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), and the justice system for allowing her voice to be heard, stating she could not have survived the process alone.
Police Investigation and Dismissal
The PSNI confirmed that McKenna was not a serving officer at the time of the offence. In June 2020, police received a report from the now-adult woman who had been abused by McKenna when she was 10. He was immediately suspended from duties pending investigation. Following an internal probe by the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department, he was dismissed from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The judge noted that McKenna’s job loss had caused “consequential financial strain” on his family, particularly his wife, who had to work, care for their three children, and take on caring responsibilities for her mother-in-law.
Sentencing and Registration
McKenna has been in custody since his conviction in December 2025. In addition to the 12-month prison sentence, he was ordered to serve 12 months on probation, sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and was disqualified from working with children.
Detective Superintendent Kerry Brennan said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrendous crimes committed in our society. To rob a child of their innocence at such a young age is diabolical.” She praised the victim’s bravery, adding: “The passage of time has no bearing on justice. There is no room in our Police Service for people who commit any wrongdoing.”
The case underscores the PSNI's commitment to investigating crimes regardless of the perpetrator's status, with Brennan stating that anyone who commits a crime will be investigated and brought before the courts.
