CRAIG CULLY FROM BALLYMENA FACES SERIOUS SEX CHARGES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Craig Cully, a 33-year-old man from Ballymena, has been brought before the Ballymena Magistrates Court to face a series of serious allegations involving child exploitation and indecent imagery. The proceedings took place via videolink on a recent Thursday, during which Cully acknowledged the existence of 14 separate charges lodged against him and expressed no objection to having his case transferred to the more serious Crown Court for further proceedings.

Currently detained at HMP Maghaberry, Cully's registered address is listed as Omerbane Road in Cloughmills. The charges against him are extensive and include 13 counts related to the creation, possession, and distribution of indecent images of children. These charges also encompass attempts to engage in sexual communication with minors and efforts to incite a child to participate in sexual activities. Additionally, Cully faces a separate charge of resisting a police officer, which was alleged to have occurred on June 19 of this year.

The timeline of the allegations reveals that the 10 charges concerning indecent images span a period from July 1, 2017, to May 5, 2023. Meanwhile, the accusations of attempting to communicate sexually with children are alleged to have taken place between April 28 of the previous year and March 6 of this year. The court has not yet been presented with all the details of the case, but it is understood that the supposed children involved in the charges were actually police officers operating as decoys to catch offenders.

Following the hearing, District Judge Nigel Broderick ordered Cully to remain in custody. The case has been transferred to the Antrim Crown Court, where an arraignment is scheduled for December 16. The proceedings continue to be closely watched as authorities pursue justice in this disturbing case involving allegations of child exploitation from Ballymena.