Aidan Nugent, a member of the 2024 All-Ireland-winning Armagh GAA senior football panel, appeared at Armagh Magistrates' Court, sitting in Newry, to face sexual assault charges today, Tuesday, May 6.
30-year-old Nugent, from Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton in Co Armagh, faces four charges against a female complainant - two counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The assault is alleged to have occurred on November 17 in Miami, Florida, where Armagh GAA were on holiday after winning the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in July.
Nugent denies the allegations; the court heard on Tuesday that he told police the "only sexual activity that occurred was consensual."
According to Armagh I, investigating officer Detective Constable Adair confirmed in court on Tuesday that he was aware of the facts and circumstances of the case and that he could connect Nugent to the offences.
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.
Nugent was contacted by police on December 10 and attended Banbridge PSNI station for an interview.
In court, Nugent's defence barrister Patrick Higgins asked DC 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.
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.
Nugent was ultimately charged on April 14.
“I deny the allegation," Nugent said when he was charged, the court heard today. "It was consensual.”
Armagh I noted that the public prosecutor told the court that a decision to prosecute in the Crown Court has been made and a Preliminary Enquiry – the process to elevate the case to the higher court – will take place on June 3.
The PSNI enquiry was first reported by the Sunday World on December 8.
The report came after "unsubstantiated claims about the alleged incident have been widely circulated on social media in recent weeks," the Irish News noted at the time.
According to the Sunday World, a complaint was made by "one of the near-100 strong party" who traveled to Miami in November as part of Armagh GAA's celebrations for winning the 2024 GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
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.
🗣 "One the hard work is done, that's where the confidence comes from."
🗣 "Winning is contagious, you get that feel for it."
Cullyhanna joint-captain Aidan Nugent reflects on his side's All-Ireland Intermediate football final victory. pic.twitter.com/0uR87hcf2P
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 14, 2024
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.
The Armagh group - 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.
According to the Sunday World, it's understood that Nugent left the holiday early to return home.