Co Armagh woman faces trial accused of inciting man to have sex without his consent

Appearing at Craigavon Magistrates Court by videolink from the offices of Gabriel Ingram solicitors, 39-year-old Tanya Lord confirmed she was aware of the single charge against her and that she did not object to a Preliminary Enquiry, the legal process necessary to elevate any case to the Crown Court.

Lord, from Derrylodge Manor in Lurgan, is accused of inciting sexual activity with a named male on 23 June last year and while none of the facts have been opened, the particulars of the offence allege that Lord committed the offence by “inserting his penis into your vagina, the circumstances being such that the activity was sexual, that he did not consent to engaging in the activity and that you did not reasonably believe that he so consented.”

During the brief PE, a prosecuting lawyer submitted the legal papers and statements formed the basis of a Prima Facie case against Lord, a submission conceded by defence counsel Barry McKenna and District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that having read the transcript of the complainants video interview with detectives, “I’m satisfied there is a Prima Facie case.”

The court clerk told Lord that although not obliged to she had the right to comment on the charge and to call evidence to the PE on her own behalf but she declined the opportunity.

Freeing Lord on continuing bail, DJ Ranaghan returned the case to Craigavon Crown Court and scheduled the arraignment for 13 January next year.