Musician Francis McPeake III to stand trial on sex abuse charges

Lawyers are not challenging decision to lift reporting restrictions

Francis McPeake III . Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Francis McPeake III . Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Folk musician Francis McPeake III is to stand trial accused of child sex abuse on both sides of the Border. All of the charges involve the same alleged victim, a girl aged under 16 at the time.

The 71-year-old Belfast man can be named after his lawyers confirmed they were not challenging a decision to lift reporting restrictions.

Mr McPeake, part of a traditional music dynasty in the city, had tried to have his identity protected due to fears for his life.

He fled his Eliza Street Close home in the Markets area of Belfast last month after a mob of up to 60 people gathered outside.

READ MORE

He faces a total of 12 charges involving alleged offences committed during 2009 and 2010. They include counts of sexual activity outside the UK and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Some of the alleged offences occurred in the Republic and others in the Belfast area.

At Belfast Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the judge granted a prosecution application to have Mr McPeake returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

The musician, whose new address cannot be revealed, was released
on continuing bail of
£500 (€593).