NI man denies he harassed convicted child sex abuser

A man who ran a Facebook page that claimed to monitor paedophiles in Northern Ireland is to contest charges that he harassed a convicted child sex abuser.

Joe George McCloskey (38) faces a single count of harassment between May and June 2014.

His lawyer told Limavady Magistrates’ Court: “That will be a contested matter.”

McCloskey, from Anderson Crescent in the town, will appear before the court in two weeks.

A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative said a special measures application would be made. The alleged victim cannot be named. A previous case involved these parties, the prosecutor told the court.

He said: “If the special measures application is granted, the matter will have to be transferred to Bishop Street (Derry) to fix a date. There are no facilities here.”

District judge Oonagh Mullan said: “This is in connection with information that was placed on Facebook.”

PA