SEX ATTACK ACCUSED IS BAILED TO LIVE NEAR HIS ‘VICTIM’
A MAN accused of a sex attack on a girl will spend Christmas living close to his alleged victim after getting his bail terms changed.
The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, lives in rural Co Donegal.
He had been ordered to stay in Letterkenny in recent months until his trial and told not to reside near or have contact with the alleged victim.
However, the man applied to have his bail conditions varied so he can visit and stay with his family from Christmas Eve until St Stephen’s Day.
Gardai told Letterkenny Circuit Court they were objecting to the accused’s application on several grounds.
A Garda sergeant said he had fears the man would try to contact the alleged victim if allowed to return home.
He added there was an allegation the accused tried to contact the young complainant to ask her to persuade her mother to drop the case against him.
The man Court in Letterkenny is also alleged to have messaged his alleged victim by Snapchat. The garda added: “I would have a fear he would contact her and put her under pressure that she would withdraw the allegations.”
The accused’s barrister Peter Nolan asked his client if he understood the bail conditions and he said yes.
The lawyer added it would be deeply unwise if the man was seen trying to contact the girl as everyone in the local area knew him.
Having considered the matter, Judge John Aylmer said he was “going to take a chance on him for a very short period of time.”
He added he hoped the accused had learned his lesson from the last time he breached his bail conditions.
The judge set down a number of conditions on which the man could return to his local area and spend the Christmas holidays.
They include he should not go out socialising or have contact with his alleged victim.
The judge warned if he breaks any of these conditions he will be at risk of losing his bail.