A FORMER Gortin man now resident in Dungannon appeared at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with a number of serious offences against young boys.
Brendan Peter Small, of 51 Reaskmere Road, Dungannon, agreed to the holding of a preliminary enquiry into his case.
BUGGERY
He is charged that on a date unknown between January 1, 1990 and December 31 1992, he committed buggery with a boy under the age of 16, and that between the same dates he committed an act of gross indecency towards a child.
He was further charged that, between January 1990 and December 2002, he incited a child to commit an act of gross indecency.
The accused is further charged that between January 1986 and December 1988 he attempted to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16, and that between December 1979 and January 1981 he indecently assaulted a male person. He was charged that between December 31, 1980 and January 1982, he indecently assaulted a male. There were also ten similar charges.
The fifty eight year-old declined to call witness, give evidence or make a statement on his own behalf at this juncture. A public prosecutor said he believed there was a prima facie case to answer, the RM agreed that, from the papers, there appeared to be a prima facie case.
VERY GRAVE
Michael Fahy, solicitor, acting for the accused said he had no contrary submissions to make at this juncture. He successfully applied for certification for two counsels on the grounds that the 'allegations are very grave indeed.'
The defendant was remanded on continuing bail of & pound;1,000 to appear for trial at Omagh Crown Court on December 5.