A twenty-six-year-old man facing multiple charges relating to alleged child sexual activity involving four female child complainants has been returned for trial.
Appearing for a committal hearing was Paul McConville from Calvertstown Road, Lurgan, who accused of 23 charges comprising five counts each of rape and possessing indecent child imagery, four counts of sexual communication with a child, three of inciting a child to commit sexual activity, two each of attempted rape and causing a child to watch sexual activity and single counts of sexual activity with a child and attempted sexual assault.
The majority of offending is alleged to have occurred on various dates between March and September 2022. However, charges in respect of one complainant reportedly range from 2020 to 2022.
No further details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged offences were disclosed during the short hearing at Dungannon Magistrates Court.
A lawyer appearing for the prosecuting said there was a case to answer which was agreed by District Judge Michael Ranaghan.
McConville, who has been remanded in custody since his arrest, spoke only to confirm his identity and that he understood the charges.
He did not object to the proceedings and declined to call witnesses or give evidence on his own behalf at this stage.
Judge Ranaghan remanded him in continuing custody to appear for arraignment at Dungannon Crown Court on a date to be fixed next month.
