A MAN who was handed over to Gardaí last year after losing a battle against a European Arrest Warrant is to stand trial in Donegal on child sex charges.
The man, who cannot be named due to a reporting restriction, is charged with three counts of sexual assault against a child, alleged to have occurred in north Inishowen, County Donegal, in 1991.
A book of evidence was served on the 60-year-old, who appeared for a brief hearing before Judge Paul Kelly at Buncrana District Court.
The accused did not address the court.
The DPP has directed that the man, who resides in Northern Ireland, be sent forward for trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court, the next sitting of which begins on July 14.
The man had been wanted in relation to the alleged charges since 2015, but challenged a European Arrest Warrant before the High Court and the Supreme Court in the North since 2017.
In December 2019, after the Supreme Court refused his application, the man was brought to court in Northern Ireland, where bail was revoked and he was subsequently handed over by PSNI to the Gardaí at the Donegal-Derry border crossing at Bridgend.
The man was released on bail in his own bond of €1,000 with an independent surety of €5,000.
The accused is to reside at an address which has been provided to the Gardai and is to be contactable by mobile phone 24 hours a day.
A weekly signing-on condition has been suspended during the currency of the Covid-19 restrictions, but will resume immediately upon their lifting. He is to have no contract with any witnesses in the case.
Legal aid has been granted, in the name of Michael Halleron of Madden and Finucane Solicitors, and a publication order has been applied to protect the identity of the alleged victim.