He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of seven years.

70-year-old Dominic McElholm, from Killyclogher, Co Tyrone was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court. The offences, which involved inappropriate kissing, took place between January and December 2005.

McElholm was formerly a chairman of the WELB and a former primary school headmaster in Omagh. He had previously denied ten charges against him, but changed his plea to guilty on three of the charges.

Helena Bracken of the Nexus Institute in Londonderry said: “I don’t wish to comment on individual cases, but most incidents of sexual abuse are perpetrated by people with very responsible jobs with access to children.”

Colm Elliott, Assistant Director NSPCC Northern Ireland told the Sentinel:When courts make decisions about convicted sex offenders they must take full account of the potential future risk to children.

“In order to deter sex offenders from preying on children sentencing should reflect the seriousness of the crime. We need to ensure that children and young people are empowered to speak out and seek help if they are experiencing abuse.

“We know from our work that for various reasons children find it difficult to speak of their ordeals and severe sentences is one way of enabling children to speak out and feel that justice has been served.

The safety of children and young people must always be of paramount importance.

“Anyone with any concerns about a child should act immediately and can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, NSPCC Offices, Social services or the police.”