brought to book | 

Convicted paedo back behind bars after ‘breaching sex order by visiting library’

The court heard that Burke ‘without reasonable excuse had access to children under 16, an act he was prohibited from performing’

Today at 16:33

A convicted paedophile accused of once again breaching his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) has been thrown back in jail.

Last Monday, Harold Burke (64) appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court by video-link from prison, with defence counsel Alan Stewart saying the Department of Justice had revoked his licence.

Burke, from the Quilly Road in Coleraine, is charged with breaching the SOPO on December 6 last year by visiting a library. The court heard that Burke “without reasonable excuse had access to children under 16, an act he was prohibited from performing”.

At an earlier hearing, a police officer revealed that after the librarian had become aware of Burke’s identity, the PSNI were told the sex offender had been attending Coleraine library three or four times a week.

As part of his SOPO, the creep is banned from having access to children.

Revealing how Burke has multiple breaches of the court order, the officer cited a risk of re-offending as being in a public library after school had provided Burke with access to children.

“It is not accepted that this is a breach of the SOPO; there is nothing preventing him from being in buildings like libraries. Whether frequently or infrequently, it is a matter of interpretation,” defence counsel argued.

When Burke first appeared for this alleged breach last month, District Judge Peter King released him on £500 bail with a residence condition, banned him from contacting any Crown witnesses and excluded him from being within 100 metres of Coleraine library in Queen Street.

Judge King adjourned the case until February 12 for a Public Prosecution Service update when Burke will appear by video-link, adding: “If the licence issue is resolved, you will be released.”