Latest news with #BelfastMagistratesCourt
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Female stalker ‘published a book' about kidnapping mum at knifepoint, court hears
Kayleigh Kim Hughes (28) was charged with stalking between 14 September 2022, and 26 July 2025. This is the Co. Antrim author who appeared in court today accused of stalking a working mum for the last three years. Belfast Magistrates Court heard how Kayleigh Kim Hughes had amassed thousands of documents and files about a woman she had been stalking, knowing where she lived, what car she drives, where she works and even her shopping patterns. A police officer told District Judge Steven Keown such was the knowledge 28-year-old Hughes had amassed, there were occasions when she had predicted where and when her target would be. Appearing in the dock Hughes, Brackenbridge Green in Carrickfergus, was charged with stalking between 14 September 2022, and 26 July 2025. Kayleigh Kim Hughes News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29 During a contested application for bail, a police officer gave evidence that the offences came to light after Hughes had written an email to her mental health counsellor, detailing her 'obsessive thoughts' about the woman. Hughes, the court heard, was arrested on Sunday and during interviews with police she admitted 'to having an obsessive fixation with the injured party.' Hughes herself detailed that for the last three years, 'she had been keeping a diary' about the woman's movements, 'loitering near her home,' as recently as the day beforehand, following the woman when she went shopping and watching as she collected her children from school. Having monitored her target's daily routines, such as how she travelled to work, journey times and where she liked to shop, Hughes admitted that she would 'make an effort to be present at these locations.' The defendant would then either 'observe the injured party or engage her in conversation,' the court heard. The officer recounted how an examination of Hughes' mobile phone, uncovered just over 1,000 documents and 78 images related to the woman she is accused of stalking. She also revealed how notebooks uncovered at Hughes' home detailed 'sinister' scenarios, including where the woman was hurt, adding that in these scenarios, sometimes it was the defendant who was harming the woman and sometimes, she was watching someone else hurting her. Hughes, the court heard, 'has published a book in reference to a fantasy scenario in which the defendant kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and held her for a number of days.' The officer said while Hughes maintained during interviews that 'she would never harm her,' nevertheless the police were concerned that her behaviour had 'intensified' over the last three years. It was also a factor, said the detectives that Hughes 'showed no remorse' despite her admissions and gave no sign that she would stop stalking the woman. Under cross-examination from defence counsel Kelly Doherty, instructed by Sara Edge solicitor, the officer agreed that Hughes had 'made effectively full admissions.' 'The only thing she did not accept was an intention to cause harm,' the detective told the barrister. The officer also agreed with Miss Doherty that the woman was aware 'that there was an issue' over Hughes 'but not to the extent of it.' 'There's been no attempts at any stage to harm the injured party,' defence counsel suggested and again, the officer agreed 'there's been no threat of harm.' Revealing that Hughes is 'awaiting a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder,' Miss Doherty submitted the defendant 'clearly has some problem with mental health.' While she suggested the bail application could be adjourned to allow those issues to be explored, District Judge Steven Keown said he would refuse bail due to the risk of further offending. Adjourning the case to 26 August, he suggested that before any court could consider releasing Hughes there would need to be a comprehensive package in place to address her mental health and any treatment. He said while he would order a mental health assessment to be conducted by the prison authorities, he further suggested the defence seek legal aid so that a consultant psychiatrist can be instructed to produce a report.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Man allegedly groped female passenger on motorcycle, court told
The Belfast man was charged with sexual assault and common assault. Belfast Magistrates Court also heard that when the alleged victim's partner got off to remonstrate with Callum Fulton, the 25-year-old assaulted him. Appearing in the dock, handcuffed and wearing a police-issue grey tracksuit Fulton, of no fixed abode, was charged with sexual assault and common assault on 25 July this year. Giving evidence that he believed he could connect Fulton to the charges, a police officer told the court Fulton had just been freed on police bail in relation to another matter when the incident happened. Stock image. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - July 26th The motorcycle had stopped in heavy traffic when Fulton allegedly 'grabbed the female passenger's backside.' 'The driver got off and challenged him about his behaviour and the defendant has punched him, thrown him to the ground and was trying to pull his helmet off the rider,' claimed the officer. As Fulton left the scene, the alleged victim followed him until police arrived and arrested the defendant. While the woman has been left 'feeling violated and dirty from the incident,' her partner sustained 'busted top and bottom lips.' The officer revealed that a short time before the incident, Fulton had been given police bail to reside with his grandmother with a condition from the woman that 'he behaves himself.' Given the latest allegations however, she had withdrawn her home as a bail address so effectively, Fulton is no fixed abode. Fulton's defence counsel said that according to the defendant, he was walking to his girlfriend's house on Sandy Row when 'he says he was assaulted by this injured party.' The barrister argued that with no history of sexual offending, that Fulton could be granted bail subject to an approved address. District Judge Amanda Henderson agreed and freeing Fulton on bail, she adjourned the case to 22 August.
Sunday World
15-07-2025
- Sunday World
Convicted paedophile on remand complains about delays
Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna told Belfast Magistrates Court 'the American consulate have been on to us about his case' An American software developer turned pervert, currently on remand facing multiple breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order, has complained to the American consulate about the lack of progress in his case, a court has heard. During a brief mention of the case against Matthew O'Hare, defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna told Belfast Magistrates Court 'the American consulate have been on to us about his case.' 'Mr O'Hare had made contact with them and had raised concerns about delay,' said the lawyer, adding that as the 63-year-old made admissions 'it should not be the most complicated case.' O'Hare, with an address at Glenwood Mews in Dunmurry, is in custody facing two sets of charges accusing the American of breaching his SOPO and the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register. In his Belfast case, O'Hare is alleged to have breached the SOPO and the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register, between May 9-15 this year, by failing to register his home address. In a separate Lisburn case, O'Hare is charged with two SOPO breaches and a further allegation that he breached the requirements of the police sex offenders register. The particulars of the SOPO breaches, allege that O'Hare had 'two apps on his phone' which he did not have permission for on 14 October last year and further that on 29 April this year, he had two mobile phones, again without permission of his Designated Risk Manager. The sex register offence alleges that on 7 December, O'Hare failed to make his annual notification of his name, address and DOB. The court has heard that O'Hare is a 'category one offender' with a SOPO in place until March 2027. The first alleged breach related to a home visit last October when O'Hare's Designated Risk Manager (DRM) attended his home and when he examined O'Hare's phone, the officer noted there were two social media apps which the defendant had not sought permission for. The officer also noted that part of the web history on multiple dates had also been deleted 'and that is a further breach.' Moving to events in December, DC Ross said routine system checks noted that O'Hare had not completed his annual re-notification, adding that to date 'that still has not been completed.' The alleged breach on 29 April related to another home visit when, after 'inviting' O'Hare to come in to be formally interviewed, the defendant produced two mobile phones for which 'he does not have approval for, and nor had he registered the devices.' 'On the 2nd May he attended Musgrave Street where he was arrested and when he was searched, two mobile phones were found,' DC Ross told the court. Having been freed on bail, the Belfast case relates to breaches on 9 May and in court on Friday, Mr McKenna confirmed that while the PPS have not yet received the full file, 'there were admissions made so it should not be the most complicated case…it's not one of the more sinister breaches.' Remanding O'Hare back into custody, District Judge George Conner adjourned the case to 25 July. Previous courts have heard how Oregon native O'Hare said in a newspaper interview in 2016 that he moved to Northern Ireland to 'escape intolerance in his homeland.' In 2019 however, he was arrested and charged with making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing an extreme pornographic image and contacting a child for the purpose of sexual gratification. At Craigavon Crown Court in 2021, he was handed a three-year probation order but that was revoked a few months later after the 62-year-old assaulted his probation officer. Having heard that O'Hare had been physically attacked and burnt out of his home in an arson attack, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said that 'seems in your mind to have translated into you being a victim rather than a perpetrator of criminal behaviour and your reaction to the people who tried to give assistance is totally reprehensible.' Imposing a one-year sentence at that stage, three months to be served in jail and the rest on licence, Judge Lynch said given he breached it in an 'egregious fashion,' he had no other option but to jail him.
Sunday World
20-06-2025
- Sunday World
Sex charges against trampoline coach to be withdrawn after he takes his own life
Simon Flannery had been charged with possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children Sex charges against an award winning trampoline coach will likely be withdrawn in two weeks after he took his own life. Last month, Belfast Magistrates Court heard that 41-year-old Simon Flannery had been found dead in a Budapest hotel and today defence solicitor Adrian Harvey confirmed he had been sent a screenshot of the Hungarian death certificate. He told District Judge Steven Keown he ought to have a physical copy by next week 'and that will be provided to the court,' adding that he will also have to liaise with the Health Department in the Republic. Simon Flannery News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Flannery, originally from Co Mayo but who had been living on the Upper Lisburn Road in Belfast, had been charged with possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children. The 41-year-old, a former barber who was awarded the coach of the year accolade in 2019, was alleged to have committed the offences between 25 March 2020 and 29 November last year. Until his arrest, Flannery had been the head of the trampoline programme at NI's largest trampoline club and had been involved in training some of its best trampoline gymnasts, many of whom have competed all over the world. In court today the PPS said that in addition to the death certificate being lodged with the court, 'it has to go through the Assistant Director of the PPS' before the case can be marked was withdrawn. Judge Keown adjourned the case to 4 July.
Sunday World
26-05-2025
- Sunday World
Top trampoline coach facing charges over indecent images of kids found dead
The 41-year-old, originally from Co. Mayo but who had been living in Belfast, was found dead in Budapest An award winning trampoline coach due to appear in court to face charges relating to indecent images of children has been found dead in the Hungarian capital. Co Mayo man Simon Flannery (41) was due to appear in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court but defence solicitor Adrian Harvey told the court 'it's a very tragic situation.' 'As far as we are aware Mr Flannery took his own life last Friday in Budapest,' he told District Judge Steven Keown, adding that 'we are seeking confirmation of that.' On an indictment dated between 25 March 2020 and 29 November 2023, Flannery, who was awarded the coach of the year accolade in 2019, was charged with having, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Having been on police bail since his arrest in November 2023, the former barber turned top trampoline coach was formally charged four weeks ago and was due to have his first appearance last week. It emerged last weekend however the 41-year-old, originally from Co. Mayo but who had been living on the Upper Lisburn Road in Belfast, had been found dead in Budapest. Simon Flannery News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025 Until his arrest Flannery had been the head of the trampoline program at Ulster's largest trampoline club and had been involved in training some of Ireland's best trampoline gymnasts who have competed all over the world. Giving evidence to the court last week, Detective Constable Shannon said the PSNI had been contacted by authorities in Budapest 'to make us aware and to contact the next of kin' but that since then, the police have 'requested official confirmation of the death.' Simon Flannery Judge Keown said that 'to keep ourselves right,' he believed the officer should give evidence that she believes she can connect Flannery to the charges and accordingly, that was done. Suggesting that the case be adjourned for a month, Mr Harvey said he would liaise with Flannery's family and the Garda. Judge Keown agreed and scheduled the case for an update on 20 June.
