Pensioner to stand trial on historic sex charges against five different women

A Belfast pensioner is to stand trial accused of historic sex offences against five different females, a judge ordered.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jul 2020, 15:18 BST
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Belfast High Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Belfast High Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Belfast High Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

The 69-year-old man faces a total of 35 charges over a period stretching back to the early 1970s.

He is not being named to ensure the alleged victims’ identities are protected.

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At Belfast Magistrates’ Court he appeared remotely from his solicitor’s offices for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

He is accused of 25 counts of indecent assault, six rapes and four offences of gross indecency with a child.

The alleged offences were committed on dates between December 1972 and May 1985.

During proceedings the defendant confirmed that he understood the charges, but declined to give any evidence or call witnesses at this stage.

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Defence counsel Joel Lyndsay did not dispute submissions that his client has a case to answer.

With no further arguments raised, District Judge Fiona Bagnall granted a prosecution application to have the pensioner returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court.

She released him on continuing bail, to appear again for arraignment on a date to be fixed.