Sex assault case is adjourned

BY DONAL MCMAHON

A ROSSCARBERY man, charged with multiple indecent sexual assaults on three young south Armagh males, has had a preliminary enquiry ordered into his alleged offending. 

Vincent O’Grady (47) of Rosscrenna South, Rosscarbery, Co Cork, is also accused of three counts of gross indecency with a male and charges of attempted buggery without consent on dates from 1988 to 1995.

The historical child abuse charges relate to the boys from the Camlough area.

The accused appeared before Newry magistrates after being ordered to attend to answer his bail. He had previously been excused from attending the Newry courts for updates to his case due to the distance form his home in Cork.

The prosecution made an application for an adjournment to consult with the DPP.

The hotel employee had been released from remanded custody despite fears from the PSNI that the defendant could abscond to the Republic, or to an address in the USA, where he had previously worked for some time and had contacts. 

A detective constable also raised an issue with Mr O’Grady returning to work, where he may be in contact with children. The court ordered for his employers to be informed of the charges against their employee.

No suitable bail address was given for the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland.

The accused was also said to own property in the south Armagh area, with the possibly of selling such property to fund a flight from the jurisdiction.

Concerns of interfering with witnesses was also raised by the police. 

Mr O’Grady had voluntarily attended an arranged police interview in Newry PSNI station before his arrest in 2015. On presenting himself to police, Mr O’Grady submitted a prewritten statement to officers and provided a ‘no comment’ interview.

A report from Granada Institute (for sexual offenders) and counselling notes are to be provided in the case.

The defendant was released from Maghaberry prison in December on £5,000 bail. Mr O’Grady’s wife, who was said to work for a ‘government body in the South, was put forward to pay the £2,500 surety for her husband’s bail.

Deputy District Judge John Connolly released the defendant on continuing bail with the case adjourned to March 16th, and excused him from appearing at the next Newry court hearing.