An Armagh All-Ireland winner accused of sexual assault is set to have his case taken to the Crown Court later this summer.
Aidan Nugent, of Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces two charges of sexual assault and two of causing or inciting a person to engage in a sexual activity on November 17 last year.
During the brief update at Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – on Tuesday the public prosecutor said the papers should be ready to fix a date for the Preliminary Enquiry – the legal step to elevate the case to the Crown Court.
District Judge Anne Marshall agreed to list the hearing got July 22 with a review on July 8.
During a previous court sitting Nugent’s defence barrister Patrick Higgins claimed that his client, during police interviews, that “any sexual activity was consensual” and that when he was charged with the offences, Nugent replied: “I deny the allegations – it was consensual.”
While none of the facts have been outlined to date, it is understood that the offences were committed in a post-season team trip to Miami where Armagh travelled to celebrate the team’s All-Ireland.
Nugent, who was not present in court this morning, will re-appear for his PE hearing on July 22 and remains on bail in the meantime.
