Anti-abortionist convicted of abusing Northern Ireland girl
An associate of two men who murdered abortion doctors in the 1990s was convicted of molesting a Northern Ireland teenager at a home he ran for troubled girls and women in the US.
John Burt, 66, was found guilty of five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation or conduct, and faces a range of probation to 15 years on each count. Sentencing at a court in Florida was set for May 12.
Burt was accused of improperly touching and propositioning the girl last year, when she was 15.
She testified yesterday over a satellite television link from Northern Ireland, where she now lives.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Harmon Massey said Burt failed in his avowed goal of turning a troubled girl into a better woman. “In fact, he was snatching away her childhood,” he said.
On Wednesday, Burt testified that he was embarrassed by the charges.
“They’ve smeared my name, they’ve ruined my ministry and just about bankrupted us,” he said.
Defence lawyer Nicole Ferry said she was surprised by the verdict, and that Burt’s family was devastated. She said she would seek his release on bail pending sentencing, and would then appeal.
“John’s been very vocal in his pro-life activities and I believe that that probably factored into it,” Ms Ferry said. She had claimed the teenager – and another young accuser whose allegations did not result in charges – had a history of lying and mental health problems.
Burt associated with two men who committed anti-abortion murders in the mid-1990s. Michael Griffin is serving a life sentence for fatally shooting an abortion doctor; Paul Hill was executed last year for the shooting deaths of another doctor and a clinic escort.
In the 1980s, Burt served jail time for bursting into a clinic and damaging equipment.
