A Bessbrook man accused of rape and false imprisonment will be returned for trial later this year.
Miceal Carragher, of John F Kennedy Park, appeared before Newry Crown Court for an arraignment hearing on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to seven charges against him – all stemming from an alleged series of incidents on September 7, 2019.
The 20-year-old is charged with four counts of sexual assault, assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment and rape. All involve the same alleged female injured party.
Prosecution solicitor Fiona O’Kane, in suggesting a date of September 26, said the trial should take a week – and possibly into a second week – to be heard.
Crown Court Judge Gordon Kerr QC asked for the case to be reviewed on June 23.
Carragher was released on bail ahead of his trial in September.
Conditions of that bail include that he have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured party.
