A 57-year-old Co Armagh man has been sent for trial at Newry Crown Court on six alleged child sex offences.
Paul Patrick Joseph McConville, who is described as being of no fixed abode, faces charges including attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and offences involving indecent images.
Six charges before the court
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between December 22 and December 27, 2025.
The charges include two counts alleging that, as an adult, McConville attempted to communicate sexually with a child under 16 for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification. A further allegation concerns an attempt to intentionally cause or incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration.
He also faces one charge of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, one charge of distributing or showing such an image, and another allegation of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
Case sent to Newry Crown Court
At a recent court sitting, a prosecuting lawyer submitted that there was a prima facie case to answer. District Judge Anne Marshall agreed and returned McConville for trial at Newry Crown Court on November 12.
Defence representatives made no submissions at this stage. McConville was remanded in custody pending his Crown Court appearance.
The allegations have not been proven. The case will now proceed to the Crown Court, where the charges will be considered as part of the trial process.