Omagh man released on bail despite police objections

AN OMAGH man with a history of sexual offences has been granted bail after being charged with multiple breaches of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO) and several counts of harassment.

Mark McGurk (27), of Glen Park Road, appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court today via video link having been remanded in custody last week after facing six alleged SOPO breaches and five harassment charges.

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Irvine told the court that police strongly objected to bail after a mobile phone and two SD cards belonging to McGurk were seized, which were able to link him to various breaches of a SOPO.

Detective Sergeant Irvine further explained that police were of the opinion that McGurk poses a risk to the general public and that further examinations are to be carried out on his mobile phone.

Appearing before Dungannon Magistrates Court last week, the court was told the alleged offending relating to the charges McGurk is facing took place between September 5 and 26, when McGurk is accused of failing to notify police of a change of address.

It was further alleged that in October last year he contacted a child via social media, though his defence insisted the messages were ‘not of a sexual nature’.

The harassment charges, the court heard, stem from an ongoing family dispute involving McGurk’s partner’s relatives.

Allegations include driving past them, making hand gestures, sounding his horn, and filming a child – although the defence argued there was ‘no evidence’ of filming.

Police objected to bail, citing McGurk’s record of 13 previous convictions for sexual contact with a minor. He has also served a prison sentence for stabbing a horse.

Today, a defence solicitor told the court that if McGurk was denied bail, he would have already served two weeks minimum of his sentence in custody and emphasised that it would be best to impose a curfew and tag McGurk, should he be granted bail.

McGurk’s solicitor also told the court that police are ‘scraping the bottom of the barrel’ and said there was ‘no witness evidence’ or ‘reasonable prospect’ of a conviction.

It was also heard that McGurk’s aunt, who was in attendance in court, had prepared a £20,000 surety for his bail.

District Judge Rafferty described the case as a ‘complicated family matter’ and granted bail at £500 with a £5,000 surety under the conditions McGurk resides at an approved address and has no contact with the complainant.

Following Judge Rafferty’s decision, police requested that McGurk’s approved bail address is outside of County Tyrone, which was granted.

McGurk will appear before Omagh Magistrates Court on November 4.