Former Albion footballer Paddy McCourt insisted he is “definitely not guilty” when he appeared in court accused of sexual assault.
The 38-year-old, who played one season for Brighton and Hove Albion in 2014/15, appeared at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court via video-link from his solicitor’s office, charged in relation to an incident in a nightclub in the city last month.
The former Northern Ireland player, from Wheatfield Court in Muff, Co Donegal, is charged with intentionally touching a woman in a sexual manner without her consent on January 30.
During the short first hearing before district judge Barney McElholm, a defence solicitor expressed concerns that another potential suspect who had been standing close to the victim at the time of the alleged assault has not yet been identified or spoken to by police.
At the outset of proceedings, McCourt, who was capped 18 times by Northern Ireland during his career, was asked if he understood the charge he was facing.
With his wife Laura sitting beside him, he replied: “Yes, but definitely not guilty.”
A police constable told the judge he could connect the accused to the charge.
Under questioning from defence solicitor Ciaran Shiels, the officer confirmed to the court that McCourt, who also counts Celtic and Barnsley among his former clubs, had co-operated with police during interview.
Mr Shiels said a forensic line of inquiry is being pursued by police and asked the constable to provide a timeline for its completion.
The lawyer suggested it had been inappropriate to charge his client prior to the forensic evidence being analysed.
In reply, the officer told the judge: “Your worship is well aware of how long forensic admissions take, that could be months.”
But he stressed that forensics are not the sole basis of the police case.
“The investigating officer was of the opinion that there was sufficient evidence to charge without any forensic evidence,” he said.
Mr Shiels pressed the officer on whether another person standing in close proximity to the injured party had been traced.
“Police agreed that that person was a potentially crucial witness and potentially also a suspect,” Mr Shiels told the officer.
“Can you confirm if that person has been spoken to yet by police because they hadn’t been identified at the last time of contact?”
