A 26-YEAR-OLD man accused of raping a woman while he was a guest at a wedding on Lusty Beg Island over a year ago has been returned for trial.

Jamie Kerr, of Mornington Gardens, Lisburn, county Antrim, is charged with raping his alleged victim, who cannot be named to protect her identity, on a date between April 21 and 23, 2016.

Kerr appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court for a Preliminary Enquiry in the case.

He was accompanied to the brief hearing by his mother and father.
A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative told the court that the alleged incident had occurred when the defendant had been attending Lusty Beg Island for a wedding.

The prosecutor said that, based on the papers submitted, Kerr had a case to answer.

Defending solicitor, Bernard Corrigan, told the court that was not formally conceded, but added he would be making no contrary submissions at this stage.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that he was “satisfied” there was a case to answer.

The defendant declined at this stage to answer the charge against him.
He further declined to give evidence himself, call any witnesses or tender a written statement of a witness at this stage in proceedings.

The judge then released Kerr on his own bail of £500 to appear before Dungannon Crown Court for his arraignment on Wednesday, October 25.