Post by leeside on Aug 2, 2010 13:53:54 GMT
A high-profile loyalist accused of raping a 13-year-old girl is being investigated for further alleged offences against two other potential victims — one of them a boy aged 12, the High Court has heard.
Mark Harbinson, a prominent Orangeman during the Drumcree marching stand-off, faces a number of child sex charges following the seizure of five mobile phones and a computer.
Prosecutors disclosed the girl at the centre of the inquiry claimed to have been in a relationship with the 42-year-old since March, with sexual encounters allegedly taking place in a car and, on one occasion, in an Orange Hall.
Crown counsel Conor Maguire said an examination of the 13-year-old's phone revealed 1,060 communications between her and Harbinson, mostly text messages, and more than 100 contacts going the other way.
It was alleged that he made a 14-minute call to her almost immediately after police left his home on October 23 when the mobiles were taken.
Harbinson, of Sheepwalk Road in Stoneyford, Co Antrim, denies charges of rape, two counts of possessing indecent photos of a child, and two further charges involving sexual activity between an adult and a child.
The court yesterday heard Harbinson was arrested when police stopped him in a car with the alleged victim three days after his home was searched.
According to the prosecution, the girl later described to police a number of alleged sex acts with Harbinson.
Two indecent images of the girl were discovered on one of the mobile phones, Mr Maguire said.
Harbinson has insisted he had not wanted the photos to be sent to him.
The Crown barrister also revealed that two further potential victims have since come forward — one of them who alleges she was indecently assaulted by Harbinson as a 15-year-old during a party at her father's house nearly three years ago.
Mr Maguire said: “A further complaint was made by a male who at the time of the alleged offence was 12 years of age.”
He added police could not go into details about this matter.
Harbinson was refused bail due to the risk of any interference with witnesses in the case.
