The case against a man, accused of raping a child six times, has been sent to the Crown Court.
The defendant – who is in his twenties but cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim – is also accused of sexually assaulting the same child four more times, as well as causing that child to watch a sexual act.
He is further charged with engaging in a sexual act knowing the child “was present or in a place from which you could be observed”.
He also faces a final charge of indictable common assault, taking the total amount of alleged offences to 13.
All charges, which took the court clerk almost three minutes to read out in short form, relate to the same alleged victim who was under the age of 13.
During a brief hearing at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday the accused confirmed his name, date of birth and that he understood the charges against him.
A prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a prima facie case against the defendant and Deputy District Judge Natasha Fitzsimmons agreed.
The defendant is to be returned to Newry Crown Court on March 18 for an arraignment hearing.
He was released on his own bail of £500.
