67-year-old man extradited from US on indecent assault charges remanded

A 67-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today after being extradited from the United States of America on indecent assault charges. 

The man with an address in Massachusetts who cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim in the case, faced 12 charges of indecent assault on his niece. 

The offences were said to have occurred on dates between August 13, 1975 and August 16, 1979.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and endorsed the extradition warrants. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that there would be no bail application today as there was no suitable address but the police had indicated if a suitable address could be found they would not be opposing bail. 

He said his client, who is believed to have been living in the USA for over 30 years, would be denying the charges. 

Mr MacDermott said that the man had been in custody in America since the end of December and had agreed to his extradition. 

The man was remanded in custody until January 29 for a bail application and a date was set for a preliminary enquiry in the case for February 13.