An Armagh All-Ireland winner has appeared in court to face a number of sexual assault charges.
Aidan Nugent, of Cullyhanna Road, Newtownhamilton, appeared in Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – on Tuesday charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The offences are alleged to have taken place on November 17, 2024, during Armagh’s end-of-season trip to Miami, to celebrate the county winning their second ever All-Ireland football title, in July.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Adair, confirmed he was aware of the facts and circumstances of the case and that he could connect Nugent to the offences.
Initial contact by the complainant was made on November 19, after returning home from Miami.
Defence barrister Patrick Higgins asked DC Adair to confirm that no contact was made with Nugent between November 20 and December 10.
DC Adair also confirmed that Nugent, on December 10, presented himself voluntarily to Banbridge police station after officers visited his home address earlier that day.
The court heard that Nugent was not interviewed again until March 31. Bail conditions were removed on that date with the only remaining condition being not to contact the alleged injured party.
And whenever he was charged on April 14, Nugent replied: “I deny the allegation. It was consensual.”
The public prosecutor told the court that a decision to prosecute in the Crown Court has been made and a Preliminary Enquiry – the process to elevate the case to the higher court – will take place on June 3.
In court on Tuesday, prosecution counsel sought an additional condition of no contact with two named witnesses, however, Mr Higgins said there was no legal basis for the imposition of additional conditions.
Mr Higgins commented: “No application for the reconsideration of a decision..should be made unless it’s based on information which was not available to the court or the custody officer when the decision was taken.
“So there’s no change in circumstances, effectively, from 31st of March and April 14. There’s no new information has been provided.
“There’s no additional witness statements. There’s no allegations that he’s breached bail in any way. So the PPS and PSNI have failed to satisfy the condition, which is they have to obtain new information or information that was not available through the custody sergeant at the time of charging and that hasn’t been presented to the court, so there’s no legal basis for this application whatsoever.”
District Judge Anne Marshall remarked: “I don’t see a huge degree of resistance coming from the prosecution in relation to it?”
The prosecutor nodded in agreement.
The case will be re-listed for PE on June 3.
Nugent, who is no longer on the Armagh panel, has appeared 26 times for the Orchard county between 2021 and 2024. He was also joint-captain during the 2023 season.
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