Conor McCurley avoids jail for ‘absolutely disgusting’ child sexual abuse

A junior cop who admitted to sexually abusing a child for years and forcing her to keep quiet about the “disgusting secret” has apologised for the “irreversible damage” he caused.

Conor McCurley’s offending has been described as ‘absolutely disgusting’ by a magistrate. Picture: Nicki Connolly

A Victoria Police officer has been let off on a diversion after admitting to years of sexual abuse against a child.

The offending by first constable Conor McCurley, 26, was described by magistrate Malcolm Thomas as “absolutely disgusting” and “shameful” in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

“You need to recognise your behaviour was absolutely disgusting … you should carry a great sense of shame for what you’ve done,” Mr Thomas told McCurley in court.

McCurley was charged with 19 offences including numerous counts of committing indecent acts with or in the presence of a child under 16 and one count of “sexual penetration”.

The charges can attract significant penalties including imprisonment however a diversion was supported by all parties – including the victim – who bravely told the court of the irreparable damage caused to her by McCurley.

Junior police officer Conor McCurley has received a diversion after admitting to sexually abusing a child. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“I felt I was tainted and I would never feel safe,” said the victim, who was abused from the age of 9.

McCurley was himself a teenager when he began sexually offending against the victim.

The court heard that over many years starting in 2011, McCurley would touch the girl’s vagina, breasts and make her masturbate him in secret.

McCurley justified to the girl that the acts were educational and that she shouldn’t tell her parents as they “might not understand”.

The victim broke down in tears as she told the court she was made to hold onto the “disgusting secret” for years and warned by some to drop the matter because she’d be “taking a man’s dream away”.

The court heard that in 2021 she confronted McCurley via text over the offending which he minimised as “an ignorant boy’s mistake”.

McCurley was charged with serious child sex offences weeks before his ritzy Yarra Valley wedding.

“I have been called spiteful and vengeful for seeking justice. But I was stripped of my childhood … what about my dreams and hopes that were taken from me,” she told the court.

“For so long I’ve felt bound to what was done to me. But I stand before you taking back my power, my truth.”

McCurley read aloud an apology to his victim, saying: “I am deeply sorry for the wrongs I did by you”.

“I can’t change or fix what has occurred … I truly wish I could but I do know I’ve done irreversible damage,” he said in court.

McCurley previously indicated he would fight the charges, meaning the victim, now aged in her 20s, would be made to recount the sexual offending in detail at trial in an experience described by Mr Thomas as “deeply traumatic”.

However the prosecution and defence agreed the case was suitable for diversion given

McCurley was willing to accept responsibility for his crimes and that diversion was

the victim’s preference.

“At first blush a member of the public may say it’s outrageous for it to be dealt

with in this way,” said crown prosecutor Matthew Fisher.

“But we say there are powerful factors at play in reaching this position.”

Mr Thomas agreed, saying the course of action gave the victim a voice and “the

agency she deserves”.

The courtroom was packed with supporters of the victim as well as McCurley’s new wife.

The charges against him were made public shortly prior to their wedding last year.

McCurley was suspended by the force without pay while the matter proceeded through the justice system.

He was ordered to pay the victim $7500 compensation and make a $2500 donation to Westcasa, a sexual assault counselling service in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Two of the 19 charges against him were struck out.