A CO TYRONE man who is accused of sexually abusing his daughters had locked them in a cellar and beat them with a heated poker, it was claimed in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Prosecutors also said the 47- year-old, who cannot be named to protect the girls' identities, left one of them fearing he would kill her if she told anyone about the years of alleged attacks.
He denies charges of rape, indecent assault, gross indecency and cruelty to a child, taking and possessing indecent photographs and aggravated assault.
A bail application heard how he claimed to be the victim of a conspiracy involving social services after his arrest last week.
However, Kate McKay, prosecuting, said his daughters had made allegations of being photographed as they dressed and forced to perform sex acts.
Ms McKay said it was claimed the man took the children out of their home on a number of occasions to what one of them called a cellar room. They were locked inside, the court heard. She also disclosed claims that he struck his daughters several times with a poker. "The children have indicated they were absolutely terrified," Ms McKay said.
During interviews, he denied locking the girls in a cellar and claimed the couch stains were caused by the children suffering nose bleeds. A defence lawyer argued his client was entitled to a presumption of innocence, adding that he did not know of his daughters' whereabouts.
Although Mr Justice Hart indicated he was prepared to grant bail, he stressed this would only be to an area well away from where the alleged victims were staying.