Northern Ireland

Former Derry and Celtic footballer Paddy McCourt guilty of sexual assault

 Paddy McCourt played for five seasons with Celtic
 Paddy McCourt played for five seasons with Celtic  Paddy McCourt played for five seasons with Celtic

Former Celtic and Derry City footballer Paddy McCourt has been found guilty of a charge of sexual assault on a female.

McCourt (39) of Wheatfield Court in Muff, Co Donegal had contested one charge of sexual assault on a female where it was alleged someone had put their hand up her skirt in a nightclub on January 30 last year. 

After a two day hearing, District Judge Ted Magill ruled that while there were discrepancies in some of the witness accounts, this happened. He said you could have 12 witnesses to one incident and get 12 different accounts. 

The judge said that the defence had claimed the police investigation had been flawed and another man identified by the defence should have been arrested and tested for DNA. He said that DNA was not infallible and that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence".

The judge said that the actions of the other man in the case were not consistent with him having committed the offence. 

He added "it follows it can't be anyone other than the defendant" who carried out the assault and he found him guilty. 

McCourt was released on bail to allow the preparation of a pre-sentence report and will be sentenced on July 7.