By Paul Higgins
Armagh All-Ireland winner Aidan Nugent today (Thurs) denied a series of sexual assault charges.
Standing in the dock of Newry Crown Court, the 31-year-old formally entered not guilty pleas to each of the eight charges against him, alleged to have been committed on 17 November last year.
Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault by penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant, “in the United States of America.”
It is understood to be the Crown case the offences were committed in America when the Armagh GAA team had travelled to Miami, Florida, to celebrate the team’s All-Ireland win, their first All-Ireland title in 22 years after they clinched victory over Galway at Croke Park in July.
Following the brief arraignment, an exchange between prosecuting counsel Fiona O’Kane and defence KC Kieran Mallon informed the court there would be five witnesses to give evidence in the trial.
Freeing Nugent on continuing bail, Judge Paul Ramsey KC scheduled the trial for 2 March but that he would review the case on 8 December.
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 