REVEALED NI fire chief sex fiend wanted to work in Brazilian orphanage
The disgraced part-time lay preacher who met his victim at church youth club he led was fundraising for missionary trip
Gary Thompson in his fire chief's uniform
Brett Campbell
Today at 06:05
Sex predator fire chief Gary Thompson was planning a trip to work with vulnerable orphans in South America when he changed his plea and admitted indecently assaulting a woman he met at the youth club he led.
Sunday Life can reveal the disgraced 56-year-old initially encountered his victim in a Co Antrim church and began a twisted two-year grooming process, which included late night car rides before “he made his move”.
Thompson led the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) from 2016 until he was suspended in December 2018 in response to historic sex allegations, which he initially denied.
He later retired from his £125,000-a-year job, which offered a generous £37,000 annual pension.
Gary Thompson preaching at the Exchange Church
Now the lay preacher, who was a vocal member of evangelical group Firefighters For Christ, is on bail awaiting sentencing after admitting two of nine indecent assault charges against him.
Both crimes relate to incidents on dates between July 1 and November 1, 2006.
Thompson, from Rogan Wood, Newtownabbey, was forced to step down from his role as secretary of Exchange Church Belfast after pleading guilty in Antrim Crown Court on June 18.
More:
https://archive.is/20240630070432/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/ni-fire-chief-sex-fiend-wanted-to-work-in-brazilian-orphanage/a134423728.html
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