Strabane man on child sex charges granted bail despite curfew breach
Stephen Hargan (40) with an address at Lisnafin Park in Strabane breached his bail by not being at his address in time for his curfew
A man who breached his bail by not being at his address in time for his curfew told police he had been in a bar and woke up in Altnagelvin Hospital Derry Magistrate's Court heard today.
Stephen Hargan (40) with an address at Lisnafin Park in Strabane is charged with sexual assault on a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on July 16 last year.
The court heard that police attended Hargan's bail address on March 16 after his curfew but there was no sign of life.
He was arrested at the address the following day and told police he had woke up in Altnagelvin Hospital and immediately took a taxi back to his address.
A police officer opposed bail due to the risk of reoffending.
Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said his client had been in custody for seven months before being granted bail on February 19.
He said that there had been 'a significant development' in the case in that DNA reports indicated that the defendant's DNA was not present.
Hargan was re-admitted to bail to appear again on March 30.