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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Derry Magistrates' Court
A man who was described in court as being 'in the highest category of sex offender' has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court charged with breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
Cathal Feeney (38) of no fixed abode was charged with, on April 7, breaching the order while in Altnagelvin Hospital.
Feeney has been deemed by police to be of the highest category of sex offender and is believed to be at high risk of reoffending.
A police officer told the court that they had been contacted by staff at A&E who told them Feeney had been treated but was refusing to leave.
This was in breach of his order as he did not get permission to stay in the hospital.
District Judge Oonagh Mullan described his record as 'atrocious', with previous convictions for multiple sexual assaults as well as numerous breaches of court orders.
Feeney is not permitted to stay overnight in any location without permission from police.
Defence solicitor James Carson said that Feeney had been burned out of his house in Coleraine in February and suffers from 'extensive mental health difficulties'.
He said his client was caught 'in a vicious circle' where he couldn't get accommodation and so was getting arrested.
A police officer said no fixed abode was not an option for someone on a SOPO.
Feeney was sentenced to three months in custody.
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