Crown Prosecution in the case of a Crossmaglen man charged with a litany of sexual abuse offences is awaiting receipt of a full file against the accused before the case can proceed, Newry Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight-year-old Thomas McKenna appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison where he is on remand, charged with a total of 17 offences against children and young men, committed over a 30-year period.
The string of charges against McKenna, a former treasurer of Crossmaglen Rangers GAA club include voyeurism; buggery of a male over the age of 16 between January 15 of 1998 and January 15 of 2000; along with gross indecency and multiple indecent assaults towards the same child between similar dates.
He was also charged with indecent assault on two other males between the dates of December 16 of 1998 and December 31 of 2001. The seventh charge relates to buggery of a second male between the dates of December 31 of 1993 and December 31 of 2002, as well as allegations of gross indecency and indecent assault of the same male during the same period.
There are a further three accusations of indecent assault alleged to have occurred between December 18 of 1988 and August 13 of 2000.
More recent alleged offences included the sexual assault of another male between March 3 of 2009 and March 3 of 2011 and a charge of indecent assault on a male between January 1 of 2009 and July 31 of 2010.
Two of the remaining three charges relate to the making and possession of indecent photographs, while the final charge relates to McKenna being a postal operator and interfering with post. The court heard that this final charge related to the opening of a postal package whilst employed as a postman.
McKenna was remanded back into custody at Maghaberry until 12th December when an update will be presented to Newry Court.