Aidan Nugent, the former Armagh GAA captain who is facing sexual assault charges that are alleged to have occurred in the US last November, has been ordered to stand trial in the Crown Court.
Nugent, from Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton in Co Armagh, appeared in Armagh Magistrates Court for a committal hearing on Tuesday, July 22.
The 31-year-old faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant.
The court heard that the offences are alleged to have occurred in the United States of America on November 17, 2024.
The Irish Times reports that it is understood to be the Crown case that the offences were committed in Miami, Florida, where the Armagh GAA team traveled to celebrate their All-Ireland win over Galway last July.
During Tuesday's brief preliminary enquiry court - the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court - a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent.
Nugent's defence solicitor Patrick Higgins, of Donnelly and Wall Solicitors, conceded the point, but declared that his client “strenuously denies the allegations.”
The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined.
Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on £500 bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2.
It has previously been reported that some 100 people traveled to Miami as part of Armagh's celebrations in November. The entourage - which included players, staff, wives, and girlfriends - flew from Dublin to Miami on November 13 and returned to Dublin on November 20.
In Miami, the Armagh group stayed at the five-star Eden Roc hotel and attended a college football match and a basketball game.
Armagh reportedly received around £100,000 (about €120k / $127k) from GAA headquarters for the end-of-season holiday, which happens every year for the All-Ireland winners. The trip was additionally funded by fundraising carried out by clubs within Co Armagh.
Nugent, who was a captain on the Armagh panel in 2022, was on the panel as a substitute for the day of the 2024 All-Ireland final, but did not receive playing time. Earlier in 2024, however, he captained his club St. Patrick's Cullyhanna to become the Intermediate All-Ireland Club champions.
During a hearing at Armagh Magistrates' Court on May 6, the court heard that the complainant made initial contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on November 19 after returning home from Miami. She attended a PSNI station the following day.
On December 10, detectives from the PSNI arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
During the hearing in May, Nugent's defence barrister Patrick Higgins asked Detective Constable Adair to confirm that no contact was made with Nugent between November 20 and December 10.
DC Adair also confirmed that Nugent presented himself voluntarily to Banbridge police station on December 10 after officers visited his home address earlier that day.
He was subsequently released on police bail pending further enquiries.
"My client voluntarily presented himself to the PSNI yesterday to be interviewed," Higgins said in December following his client's release.
"He co-operated fully with the PSNI in the initial stages of the investigation.
"He is innocent of all charges and vows to do everything in his power to clear his name."
Nugent was again interviewed on March 31. Bail conditions were removed on that date, with the only remaining condition being that he not contact the alleged injured party.
On April 14, Nugent was charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
Higgins said at the time that he was "shocked" his client was arrested and reiterated that Nugent maintains his innocence.
The court heard that when Nugent was charged on April 14, he replied, "I deny the allegation," adding: "It was consensual."
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