DERRY MAN REMANDED ON CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES
A man named Stephen Hargan, aged 40 and residing in Brookdale Park, Derry, appeared in court charged with serious criminal offenses involving a four-year-old girl.The charges include sexual assault on the child on July 16 and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity on the same date.
During the court proceedings, an application for Hargan to be granted anonymity was denied after it was revealed that details of the case were circulating widely on social media.
Court reports state that on July 17, a police officer was informed by the child's mother that her daughter had been assaulted by Hargan.
The mother recounted that Hargan had been inside her house, went to the bathroom for about 30 minutes, and that her daughter had shared that Hargan entered her bedroom and kicked her on the bottom.
The child was wearing pants when she went to bed, but these were missing the next morning, and she told her mother that Hargan had advised her not to tell anyone.
The following day, ambulance staff contacted police, stating that Hargan had sustained injuries including a broken kneecap from an assault.
Hargan was subsequently arrested in relation to the incident.
Defense lawyer Stephen Chapman indicated that Hargan could be released on bail to an approved address after denying the charges.
Despite this, the Deputy District Judge Brian Archer stated that Hargan was 'under serious threat' and refused bail, remanding him in custody to appear again on August 11.
