Belfast Man Remanded in Custody for University Toilet Voyeurism

UPDATE: A 39-year-old man from Belfast has been remanded in custody today after being accused of voyeurism in the toilets of Ulster University. Michael McNally appeared at the Belfast Magistrates Court where he faces a serious charge related to an incident that allegedly occurred on December 2, 2023.

McNally is charged with observing another individual engaged in a private act without their consent, with the intent of obtaining sexual gratification. The incident reportedly took place in the university’s restroom facilities, and authorities confirmed that McNally was identified through CCTV footage.

During a contested bail application, the court revealed that police will conduct a VIPER (Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording) line-up later this week. Defense solicitor Pearse MacDermott stated that McNally maintains his innocence, asserting he was “adamant that he was not involved in this incident.” However, he acknowledged that while McNally was seen on CCTV in the vicinity, “there’s nothing to put him at the incident when it happened.”

Despite these arguments, District Judge Amanda Henderson expressed significant concerns regarding McNally’s previous convictions, which ultimately led her to deny bail. She remanded him into custody, postponing the case until December 30, 2023.

The nature of the accusations has raised alarm within the university community, prompting discussions about safety and privacy in shared spaces. The police continue their investigation, and more developments are expected as the case progresses.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.