Edward Sweeney, an 84-year-old man from Welbeck Avenue, Sidcup, faced 47 child sex abuse charges before his sudden death. The allegations involve nine boys aged between eight and 14 at the time of the abuse.
The alleged offences date from the late 1960s through to 2010 and cover locations in Sidcup, Kent, as well as overseas in Portugal, Turkey, and Hungary.
The charges include:
- 3 counts of rape of a child under 13
- 27 counts of indecent assault
- 5 counts of indecency with a child
- 7 counts of sexual assault of a child
- 5 counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges on January 2, 2024, following a Metropolitan Police investigation that began in November 2023.
Sweeney suffered a heart attack just weeks after being charged. Bromley Magistrates’ Court confirmed his death on March 18. With his death certificate still awaited, the case against him will be dropped, ending any chance of justice for the victims.
This case reveals decades of child abuse across multiple countries, casting a dark shadow over Sidcup and beyond.
Originally published by UKNIP.
