A 65-year-old retired teacher from Sion Hill has been sentenced to prison after being convicted on four counts of indecent assault involving a minor, iWitness News has reported.
John Clyde Fitzpatrick received the custodial sentence following a hearing before a magistrate. Because matters of this nature are heard in camera to safeguard the identity and well-being of the minor involved, only limited details of the proceedings have been made publicly available.
According to a police statement issued in February 2025, the offenses took place between September 2024 and January 2025. Authorities at the time declined to release further specifics, citing the sensitive nature of the case and the need to protect the child’s identity. Police did, however, assure the public that the matter was being handled through the proper legal channels to ensure justice.
Fitzpatrick was charged under Section 127(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, CAP 171 of the Revised Edition of the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2009). Under this provision, indecent assault on a child under the age of 15 carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Subsection 2 of the same statute further establishes that a child under 15 cannot, as a matter of law, give consent that would preclude an act from being considered an assault.
The case highlights the ongoing responsibility of Vincentian institutions — including schools, churches, and community organizations — to remain vigilant in safeguarding children and ensuring that allegations of abuse are taken seriously and pursued through the justice system.
Source: iWitness News