A 59-year-old music teacher from Derry has appeared at the city’s Magistrate’s Court to face ten charges of sexual offences against children.
Brian Bergin, of Brookhill in the city, appeared for a preliminary enquiry in relation to ten counts of sexual activity with children aged thirteen and under between 2012 and 2014.
The charges state that he intentionally touched the children while in a position of trust.
There was no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry and District Judge Barney McElholm accepted there was a prima facie case to answer.
The defendant was asked whether he wanted to respond to the allegations, give evidence or call witnesses.
On each occasion, Bergin answered ‘not at this stage’.
The holding summonses were marked withdrawn and the defendant was granted his own bail of £500.
The defendant will be returned to Derry Crown Court for his arraignment on January 16.
Judge McElholm ordered him to have no contact with any of the injured parties or witnesses - either directly or indirectly.
The court heard that Bergin’s ‘liberty is likely to be at risk if convicted’ and the District Judge said that would ‘almost inevitably lead to loss of employment’.
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