04/06/2008

Indecent Assault Charges Heard

Two alleged sex scandals have shocked Northern Ireland with a former library board chairman - who is also a retired school principal - appearing in a Co Tyrone court charged with indecent assault on a young girl.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, Londonderry Crown court has heard a 15-year-old boy plead not guilty to committing 20 sex offences against two seven-year-old girls.

The underage defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is alleged to have committed the offences in 2006.

He has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of rape, five charges of gross indecency with a child and six charges of indecent assault in 2006 and is due to stand trial at Londonderry Crown court in October.

At the case heard in Co Tyrone this week, Dominic McElholm, aged 69, from Killyclogher, pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of indecent assault when he appeared at Dungannon Crown Court to answer charges on offences alleged to have taken place between January and December 2005.

Mr McElholm, who is the ex-Chairman of the Western Education and Library Board and the former headmaster of a primary school, was released on bail before his trial is due to begin in October.

(BMcC)

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