House of horrors
Thursday, 26 June 2008
THE shutters have been slammed on the Community House in Rathenraw this week after disturbing evidence of schoolgirls taking part in lewd sex acts during drunken parties came to light.
The rent-free property had been leased to the Community Association for several years but critics have said that its doors are seldom open to the public, though they claim it was an 'open secret' that the building was frequently over-run by boozy teens.
Those accusations were always strenuously denied until photographs of young people partying on the premises - and in the Rathenraw Project House - appeared on a social networking website.
In several pictures underage drinkers are seen lying semi-conscious still clasping half consumed bottles of alcohol.
Another series tells the story of a drunken 17th birthday party at the Community House involving a young girl who is put into explicit poses by a male stripper.
The young black man is pictured simulating several sex acts with the teenager, even though one BEBO reader felt she looked frightened by the ordeal.
A full dossier of pictures taken during the parties has been presented to the Housing Executive, who acted swiftly to close the Community House pending the outcome of a full enquiry.
Members of the Committee were informed on Monday of the decision, and staff sealed the property after they received assurances that there would be no need for back-up from the PSNI.
The Association is chaired by former Provo bomber Paddy Murray, who refused to give up the reins despite the fact that he has been effectively banned from entering the estate since 2005 when he was accused of masterminding the kidnap and savage assault of a local teenager - charges which will see him stay behind bars until November 2009.
