A CO Tyrone man facing charges linked to a serious sex attack on a woman in Peatlands Park near Dungannon last year has walked free after a jury found he did not commit the offences.
James Wright, of Derrylee Road, in Dungannon, faced three counts each of rape and sexual assault on a woman who was walking her dog at the country park on April 27 last year.
He was initially refused bail but later released to a secure hospital on the six charges.
However at Dungannon Crown Court yesterday the judge told Wright the court had "no further powers in this matter" and said he was free to go.
It is not yet known if Wright will return to the secure hospital where he has been detained.
Wright (24), who lived a short distance from Peatlands Park, was arrested last April at his home after the woman raised the alarm following the attack.
At the most recent court sitting in October, a defence lawyer provided an expert report which assessed Wright as unfit both to stand trial and to provide legal instructions, and a lawyer for the prosecution accepted this as the agreed position.
His Honour Judge Neil Rafferty QC advised the jury their task was one of 'fact finding' in the case.
A fact-finding hearing means the accused is not technically on trial but a court sits to determine if the incident occurred.
The jury were told return findings of 'committed or not committed' as opposed to 'guilty or not guilty'.
Following three days of hearing evidence from the victim, police, forensic and medical witnesses, the jury cleared Wright of all charges, by majority decision.
When a defence lawyer counsel said Wright was currently resident in a secure hospital, Judge Rafferty responded: “The court has no further powers in this matter. As far as I’m concerned this man is free to go."
Following the hearing Wright’s parents and sisters broke down in tears and rushed to hug him as he was freed from the dock and custody.
