Derry: Man extradited from US appears on abuse charges

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Londonderry Magistrates' Court
Image caption,

The 67-year-old defendant faced charges dating by to the Seventies when he appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court.

A man extradited from the United States has appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court on indecent assault charges dating back to the 1970s.

The 67-year-old, with an address in Massachusetts, cannot be identified to protect the identity of the alleged victim.

He denies 12 charges of indecent assault.

The offences are said to have happened on dates between 13 August 1975 and 16 August 1979.

The man was arrested in the US on the foot of an international warrant and flown back to Northern Ireland.

In court on Tuesday, a police officer said he endorsed the extradition warrants and could connect the accused to the charges.

No bail application

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court that there would be no bail application as a suitable address for his client had not been found.

The police have indicated that if a suitable address is found, they will not be opposing bail, Mr MacDermott added.

He said his client would be denying the charges.

The defendant has been in custody in the US since the end of December and had agreed to his extradition, Mr MacDermott said.

The man was remanded in custody until 29 January for a bail application.

A preliminary enquiry will be held on 13 February, the court was told.