A man who has admitted to four counts of rape which occurred more than 20 years ago in the Portadown area will face Crown Court proceedings later this year.
The 55-year-old appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Martin Joseph Creaney, with an address of Bank Street in Belfast, is charged with four counts of rape, buggery with a woman and indecent assault.
As the charges were read, it was heard that the alleged rape offences occurred between January 1, of 1990, and December 31, of 1999, with them relating to a single female injured party.
At a previous hearing, defence solicitor Richard Montieth made it known that a bail application was not to be made but commented “this is the most suitable case on earth” to be progressed as quickly as possible.
The solicitor told court that during an initial police interview the defendant had denied the offences but he had since contacted police and had asked to be re-interviewed.
He outlined: “You have her statement and his confession so if the directing officer can’t get that by the next remand and have a PE, there’s something wrong.”
Appearing via videolink from Maghaberry on Friday, Creaney 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.
Mr Montieth made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Peter Magill was satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer and the defendant was remanded in custody to appear before Craigavon Crown Court on a date to be fixed for arraignment.
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