Northern Ireland

Whereabouts of man accused of allegedly raping 12-year-old girl unknown to court

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;; ">Paul Sheridan (23) fled his bail address due to alleged threats against him</span>
Paul Sheridan (23) fled his bail address due to alleged threats against him Paul Sheridan (23) fled his bail address due to alleged threats against him

THE whereabouts of a man accused of allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl are unknown - six months after a warrant was issued ordering him to appear before a judge.

Paul Sheridan (23) fled his bail address due to alleged threats against him and failed to appear at Craigavon Crown Court on November 27.

He was due to appear for arraignment on two charges alleging the rape of a 12-year-old girl, two counts of sexually assaulting the child and two charges of child abduction relating to her and her 15-year-old friend.

Judge Patrick Lynch issued a bench warrant for Sheridan, of Hillfoot Crescent in Ballynahinch, Co Down, but there is no trace in public records of him returning to court.

The PSNI yesterday declined to say if the warrant had been executed or if there was an alert out for him.

"We do not comment on named individuals and no inference should be drawn from this," a spokeswoman said.

On Monday a jury at Craigavon Crown Court found his co-accused 28-year-old Gerard McKenna, listed as no fixed abode but previously from Rockville Street in Belfast, guilty of raping and sexually assaulting the child on December 23 2019.

He was also found guilty of sexual activity with the second complainant, offering to supply class A cocaine and two counts of child abduction on the same date.

The charges arise following an incident on the Lagan towpath on Monday 23 December and when the pair first appeared in court on Boxing Day.