Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GROOMING ACCUSED ‘ON WAY TO MEET GIRL AGED 12’ Alleged paedophile refused bail
A MAN accused of trying to meet a 12-year-old girl in England for sexual purposes said he was travelling to a snooker tournament, the High Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutors said Patrick Mcwilliams was arrested at Belfast City Airport after boarding a flight to Leeds in March.
The 55-year-old faces charges linked to an investigation by a law enforcement agency involving the use of an online decoy to target suspected paedophiles.
He was refused bail by Mr Justice Mcalinden who cited the need to protect children from exploitation.
Mcwilliams, from Craigburn in Antrim, faces charges including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and taking part in such activity in the presence of a child.
Crown lawyer Kate Mckay told the court police received information from a Uk-based law enforcement agency.
A decoy using a pseudonym was deployed to monitor chatrooms on an adult website.
Mrs Mckay added they received a private message from a user called Naughty Oscar.
The court was told the decoy mentioned they had a 12-year-old daughter which led to the user allegedly disclosing his interest in and fantasies about girls of that age.
It was claimed an arrangement was made to travel to Leeds to meet the child.