Ex-rugby star jailed for child sex abuse

The 53-year-old from Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena, Co Antrim, was yesterday convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault, gross indecency with a child and inciting gross indecency with a child. The railway supervisor, who is also a Ballymena councillor, stood trial at Antrim Crown Court accused of sexually abusing two young girls over an eight-year period from 1988.

The jury of 10 women and two men had deliberated for more than eight hours and returned guilty verdicts on 10 charges including indecent assault and gross indecency and Tweed was taken into custody. The jury later returned with three further guilty verdicts but he was also cleared of one count of indecent assault.

The father-of-four, who also has two stepchildren, had denied anything improper had happened with the girls who are now adults.

Sentencing is due to take place in the new year.