Pensioner extradited from Australia remanded in custody accused of historic sexual offences
A pensioner extradited from Australia was remanded in custody today accused of historic sexual offences against two members of his family in Belfast.
The 75-year-old man appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court to face charges of indecent assault on a female and gross indecency with a child.
He is not being named to protect the identity of the two complainants.
The alleged offences were committed over a period spanning from January 1969 to March 1983.
The accused was initially arrested in Victoria back in 2023 and returned to Northern Ireland on Wednesday following an extradition process. PSNI officers worked with Home Office officials and Australian authorities to locate and detain him.
He was being sought to stand trial on a total of 17 charges, including 14 indecent assaults and three counts of gross indecency with a child.
Appearing remotely in a wheelchair from nearby Musgrave Police Station, the man did not speak during the brief court hearing.
Defence barrister Jonathan Browne, instructed by solicitor Owen Beattie, raised no objections to how the international arrest warrant was executed.
Mr Browne also confirmed his client was not seeking bail at this stage.
No further details about the alleged circumstances were disclosed in court.
District Judge Anne Marshall remanded the accused in custody until August 20, when a date for a preliminary enquiry will be listed.