The trial of an Armagh All-Ireland winner accused of eight counts of sexual assault – which was due to begin early next month – has been put back until the New Year.
Aidan Nugent, 32, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces seven counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration, all against the same complainant, on November 17, 2024.
The charges related to alleged offences committed in America when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida, to celebrate the team’s All-Ireland win just three months before.
During a review of the case at Newry Crown Court on Friday, His Honour Judge Paul Ramsey KC heard from defence counsel on personal difficulties surrounding the date on November 9 – when the trial was due to begin.
Prosecutor Fiona O’Kane said she and her colleague were “live” of those issues and agreed that the case was unlikely to proceed as previously planned.
Said Judge Ramsey: “It’s my practice where, in a high profile long-running case, if counsel have to change, or be brought in at the last minute as it were, I don’t think that’s a very good idea and therefore I would be amenable if the case had to come out because of your personal situation.”
Ms O’Kane said: “We have quite a few civilian witnesses which will obviously have knock on ramifications to their personal lives and ongoing distress in terms of delay.”
Judge Ramsey said he understood and agreed to fix a new date on November 9 and that the case would “get priority over other trials”.
Nugent, who was not present in court, remains on continuing bail.
