Three face 36 sex offence charges against children

A court was told in Derry yesterday that three men allegedly drew from a deck of cards to determine which of them was going to…

A court was told in Derry yesterday that three men allegedly drew from a deck of cards to determine which of them was going to rape a 13-year-old girl first.

The disclosure was made by a police officer during the appearance at the Magistrates Court of three local men who had been remanded in custody charged with committing a combined 36 sex offences against two young girls and a young boy.

The three men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested during a police operation in the city on Wednesday and kept overnight in Limavady and Strabane police stations.

They are alleged to have committed the offences over a 26-year period from 1972 to 1998. The offences with which they are charged include rape, buggery, incest and cruelty to a child.