The case against a former Sinn Féin press officer charged with sex offences has been adjourned for 24 hours at Derry Crown Court after the defendant failed to turn up for a re-arraignment.
Michael McMonagle (42) of Limewood Street in Derry is charged with 13 counts of sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempted incitement of a child to engage in a sexual act on dates in August 2021.
McMonagle was due to appear at the request of the defence to be re-arraigned on the charges but did not appear.
Defence counsel Dean Mooney said that despite repeated attempts it had not been possible to make contact with the defendant.
He told the court that those efforts included calling at the defendant’s address but there had been no sign of McMonagle.
Judge Philip Babington said he was prepared to grant the defence 24 hours to try and locate the defendant and this course of action was accepted by the prosecution and defence.
The case was adjourned until Friday September 20.