Omagh man found ‘half-naked’ in bed with 16-year-old girl

AN Omagh man has been remanded in custody after police discovered him ‘half-naked’ in bed with a missing 16-year-old girl.

Daniel Murray, 26, of Knockmoyle Grove, appeared before Omagh Magistrates Court this week charged with breaching bail and allegedly abducting a child from care.

He was already due to appear in court on May 6 in relation to the abduction charge, with strict conditions not to contact the teenager.

A police detective told the court that on Monday (April 28), social services reported that a child in their care had gone missing.

Officers then attended Murray’s address and found both him and the girl in bed together ‘half-naked’.

Standing in the dock, Murray interjected to deny the claim, insisting both he and the girl were ‘fully clothed’.

However, the detective confirmed that police body-worn camera footage showed otherwise.

The court heard that the girl had been ‘seeing’ Murray since she was 15 and had been subject to a care order since December.

Murray was previously arrested on March 3 in relation to the same girl and was aware of his bail conditions, having ‘understood’ them at the time.

Police opposed bail, arguing that Murray had already demonstrated a willingness to breach conditions and that the girl was likely to seek further contact.

Defence counsel proposed that Murray be granted bail to an address outside Omagh, with a condition banning him from the town entirely.

However, District Judge Ted Magill rejected this suggestion. Judge Magill pointed out the ‘significant’ gap in age, adding that the girl was likely to contact Murray.

The judge said his priority was the protection of the child and ruled that bail could not be considered appropriate at this stage.

Murray was remanded in custody and will appear again before Omagh Magistrates Court on May 6.