Catherine McSherry speaks out after wedding photographer Christopher McSherry’s voyeurism conviction.
The step-sister victim of a man convicted of voyeurism has said she feels let down by the courts.
Christopher McSherry was found guilty of six charges of voyeurism and one charge of unauthorised computer access.
The 35 year old, from Portadown, was sentenced at Omagh Magistrates’ Court on 19 September to 100 hours community service, 18 months probation and a sex offences prevention order.
His estranged step-sister, Catherine McSherry, was one of his victims.
She and her sister, Liz, discovered he had taken a tablet device that belonged to her and had saved intimate private photos she had taken of herself to his own personal folder.
They also found photographs he had taken of other women in their homes, in states of undress and in intimate situations.
There have been some questions raised over how the case has been handled by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
It first appeared before District Judge Bernie Kelly in June 2023.
On that date, the judge asked the prosecution lawyer: “Are you seriously prosecuting this in the magistrates’ court?”
When she asked if a male prosecutor had reviewed the case file, she was told it was.
Judge Kelly then suggested that a female prosecutor should look at it, commenting: “It’s the sheer number of different individuals and this went on for many years.”
The case would continue at the magistrates’ court.
“The case got minimised slowly over time, it seemed, and over time it just got smaller and smaller,” said Catherine.
She added that she felt the case could have been taken to the crown court.
“I don’t think the sentence was sufficient, I do think he needed a custodial sentence.”
Image source, Studio 39 Photography
The PPS told BBC News NI: “We recognise the very serious impact offences such as these can have on victims’ lives.
“We determined that the magistrates’ court was the appropriate venue and that the court had sufficient sentencing powers to reflect the nature of the offences and their distressing impact on the victims.
“There was no suggestion from the PPS that the offences are of a minor nature.”
‘It’s just so sinister’
McSherry, who had been working as a wedding photographer, was also ordered by the court not to own or operate any device with a camera for five years.
The judge who sentenced McSherry said it was one of the worst cases of voyeurism ever seen by the court.
Catherine has taken some solace in that recognition.
“It was kind of an out-of-body experience, it was validating to hear someone else actually agree that what happened was wrong and wrong on a level that not every man can appreciate I don’t think, Christopher being one of them,” she said.
Catherine said she was glad the case is now over, but was far from healed
“The damage that it’s done, I can’t even begin to explain it really,” she added.
“I’m very conscious of cameras, everywhere. I don’t know what I’m afraid of because I’m just existing, but it’s just so sinister.
“How do I know it’s not going to happen again?”
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