Man appears in court after approach of child in Antrim playpark

By Nevin Farrell

A man appeared in court in Ballymena on Monday charged with causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at a play park in Antrim town at the weekend.

Ryan O’Lynn (25), unemployed, of Birch Hill Park, Antrim, is also accused of exposing himself.

The charges follow an incident in Antrim on Saturday.

The first charge the defendant faces is that on May 26, being over the age of 18, he ‘intentionally incited a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity'.

The second charge states that the accused 'intentionally exposed your genitals that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress'

The defendant appeared in the dock at Ballymena Magistrates Court and confirmed he understood the charges.

A detective constable said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.

A prosecution lawyer said there was to be an application for bail.

The police officer said if bail was granted it would have to be to an address outside Antrim.

The detective told the court it was alleged a male "approached" an eight-year-old girl and her friend, a boy (9), and tried to get them to go "behind a tree".

The officer said both children confirmed they had "not been touched".

The detective said the alleged incident happened in the "vicinity" of a play park and that the children had ran away.

The police man said there was "great concern" for the "welfare" of the defendant and said numerous comments had been made on Facebook.

The officer said he was not opposed to bail but not in Antrim town.

The detective said the accused had alcohol taken at the time of the incident at 7.10pm on Saturday at a "play park in an estate in Antrim".

Defence solicitor Ciaran Maguire said the defendant "completely denies" the offences and had given "an account".

The police officer said O'Lynn "puts himself in the place" but that the accused claimed "he wasn't aware of anyone else being in the vicinity".

District Judge Liam McNally said there were two factors he had to take into account.

First of all he said there was a presumption of innocence and the defendant had indicated he was "not guilty of these offences".

The second matter was bail.

The judge said he believed there may well be a risk of further offences but he said the defendant had no convictions for this type of offence.

He said he was prepared to grant bail with conditions but warned the defendant if there was any breach he faced going into custody.

O'Lynn was released on his own bail of £500 with a surety of £1,000 with conditions including a ban from entering Antrim town and no contact with any children unless approved by the PSNI or social services.

There is to be no contact with the alleged 'injured party' and he is not to be within 100 metres of any school or any public play area.

The defendant is also barred from consuming alcohol.

The defendant was released on bail to appear at Antrim Magistrates Court on June 19.