Man charged with committing sexual offences while on Armagh GAA trip

It is understood that the offences relate to an incident in November last year when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in 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.

The alleged assailant was first interviewed on a voluntary basis last December and at that time, the man’s solicitor, Patrick Higgins, highlighted that his client “co-operated fully with the PSNI in the initial stages of the investigation”.

On Monday the man was formally charged with four offences including two of sexual assault and two ion causing a person to engage in sexual activity without their consent and he is due to appear at Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, on 6 May.

Mr Higgins said that he was “shocked by the decision of the PSNI to charge my client in relation to an incident that occurred outside the jurisdiction last year”.

“I believe there was no necessity to arrest my client. A formal complaint was made to the PSNI on November 20, 2024. No contact was made between the PSNI and my client for three weeks. When requested he presented himself voluntarily at Banbridge Police station where he was arrested over four months ago.

“The request by the PSNI to charge, I believe, is without merit and shall be challenged further down the line.

“I believe the decision to charge the suspect to Court by the PSNI is influenced by the media publicity this case has attracted due to his profession and in breach of my client’s right to a fair trial and in breach of his right to private and family rights.

“My client maintains his innocent and has instructed me to contest the charges fully.”