A Co Armagh man has denied sexually assaulting a family member.
The accused – who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim – appeared in Newry Crown Court for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday.
The defendant – aged in his 30s – is accused of sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault on a date unknown between September 1, 2021 and November 30, 2021.
He is also charged with a domestic abuse offence in that “on dates unknown between February 21, 2022 and August 8, 2023, engaged in a course of behaviour that was abusive of another person namely [complainant] a person to whom you were personally connected at the time and the course of behaviour is such that a reasonable person would consider the course of behaviour to be likely to cause [complainant] to suffer physical or psychological harm and that you intended the course of behaviour to cause her to suffer physical or psychological harm or you were reckless as to whether the course of behaviour would cause her to suffer physical or psychological harm”.
The accused spoke briefly to confirm his name and date of birth before entering “not guilty” pleas to the three charges.
None of the facts were opened during the brief hearing but at least one of the allegations centres around the complainant sleeping at the time.
Her Honour Judge Donna McColgan KC agreed to a trial date of June 23.
