A 58-year-old man from Ballygawley, Tyrone, faces trial at Dungannon Crown Court on charges related to sexual communication with a child. Ian Stanley Boyd of Lisbeg Road appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a preliminary enquiry.

Prosecutors outlined charges of attempted sexual communication with a child, enticing a child to distribute indecent images, and two counts of attempting to entice a child to engage in a sexual act. The alleged incidents took place between February 9 and February 24, 2024.

The Public Prosecution Service stated a case to answer existed. Boyd entered no response to the charges and submitted no written evidence.

District Judge Francis Rafferty released Boyd on £500 bail. Arraignment at Dungannon Crown Court awaits a fixed date.

Defence solicitor Jarlath Faloon requested legal aid, noting Boyd's unemployment. Faloon said Boyd lost income after a 2023 animal cruelty conviction that barred him from keeping animals.

Judge Rafferty asked why Boyd had not sought benefits. Boyd replied he preferred to avoid that route. The judge called this stubbornness and questioned public funding for legal aid without a benefits application.

Boyd briefly left court to reconsider. He returned and directed Faloon to apply for benefits. Judge Rafferty approved legal aid pending proof of the application.