Date set for Nugent's first appearance in the Crown Court

OCTOBER 2 has been set as the date for the arraignment hearing of a member of the Armagh Men's Senior Gaelic All Ireland winning football team who faces charges of a sexual nature.

Appearing before a Preliminary Enquiry hearing at Armagh Magistrates court sitting in Newry was Aidan Nugent, (31), with an address given as Cullyhanna Road , Newtownhamilton. Nugent faces seven counts of doing an act which constituted a sexual offence in the United States of America, a country outside the United Kingdom, namely sexual assault dating back to November 17 of last year to which Article 76 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 applies , as well as a single count of sexual assault involving penetration in the United States, a country outside of the United Kingdom, to which Article 76 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 also applies.

It is understood that each of the offences which Nugent faced before the court date back to the celebratory trip which the All Ireland Men's Senior Gaelic Football team took to Miami in November of last year to commemorate the team winning the All Ireland Men's senior football title after beating Galway by a single point.

Appearing in the dock of the court Nugent spoke to confirm his date of birth and that he had received a copy of the papers in relation to the holding of the preliminary enquiry whilst having the charges that he faced read to him.

Addressing the court prosecution in the case submitted that on the basis of the papers before the court their was a prima facie case to answer, with District Judge Anne Marshall agreeing that she was satisfied this was so.

Nugent said nothing in relation to the charges before the court, whilst also not tendering a written statement of evidence.

Releasing Nugent on the sum of his own bail to the value of £500 Judge Marshall adjourned the case to to the sitting of Newry Crown Court due to take place on October 2 wherein his arraignment hearing in the case will take place.

An application for legal aid was also made on the part of the 31 year old. It was noted in court that Nugent strenuously denies the charges levelled against him, with the Armagh All star claiming any activity that occurred was consensual