Former DUP aide on toilet cam charges

A prosecuting lawyer told last week’s Craigavon Magistrate’s Court the case against 49-year-old David McConaghie is to proceed “on indictment” and asked for the case to be adjourned until March 11 for a preliminary enquiry.

McConaghie, from Dollingstown, is on bail facing a single charge of voyeurism on dates between January 1, 2012 and September 12, 2012 in that “for the purpose of sexual gratification observed another doing a private act knowing that the other person did not consent to being observed for your sexual gratification”.

The charge arose after DUP MP David Simpson reported to police that he found a camera in the toilets of his constituency office in Portadown.

When he was initially charged last September, McConaghie had been charged with installing the camera but the particulars of the indictment have since been amended.

Yesterday McConaghie’s solicitor said he had “concerns” about the case being adjourned for so long but in fixing the PE for March 11, District Judge Bernie Kelly said she would review the case next month “to make sure that we are on target” and released McConaghie on continuing bail in the meantime.

As part of his bail conditions, McConaghie is barred from contacting any staff member at the DUP advice office in Portadown and from owning or possessing any mobile phone or other device “capable of making video recordings”.