A Bessbrook man who is accused of rape and false imprisonment will face Crown Court proceedings next month.
The 20-year-old appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Miceal Carragher, of John F Kennedy Park, is charged with four counts of sexual assault, assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment and rape.
As the charges were read, court heard that all of the offences were alleged to have been committed on September 7, of 2019, and all involved the same alleged female injured party.
Appearing before the court, the defendant made no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
Prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer.
Defence counsel made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Bernie Kelly, satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer, released Carragher on his own bail of £500 to appear before Newry Crown Court on May 3 for arraignment.
Conditions included that he have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured party.
