Rapist Joseph McCabe to stand trial for going on the run in Donegal
A SEX offender is to stand trial accused of going on the run in Donegal from police in the North, a judge has ruled.
Dangerous Joseph Francis McCabe appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with failing to notify police before he travelled outside the United Kingdom.
As a registered sex offender, he must inform police of his movements.
He is alleged to have gone missing in April, crossing the border into Donegal with the intention of remaining there for a period in excess of three days.
McCabe went on the run with convicted thug Casey Morgan.
Donegal Daily revealed at the time the pair had been living in a caravan in Burtonport before being switched to a house in Dungloe.
However, the publicity surrounding his whereabouts and his description led McCabe to fear for his safety.
Vigilantes had been patrolling Dungloe, vowing to protect local people.
McCabe, from west Belfast but with a hostel address at Ventry Lane in the city, was arrested the following month after handing himself into police in Derry
Morgan was arrested by Gardai in Donegal and later faced an extradition court in Dublin.
During a preliminary enquiry hearing at the court on Thursday, McCabe declined to give evidence or call witnesses at this stage.
The judge ruled he has a case to answer.
She granted a prosecution application to have the accused returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
McCabe was remanded back into custody until his trial begins.
McCabe went missing for two months after his release from jail in February for brutally raping a pensioner in her home.
The 29-year-old was reported missing from an address in Belfast and had broken rules attached to his release.
He was jailed for 14 years in 2006 and put on the sex offenders’ register.
Following his arrest, McCabe appeared in court.
Casey Morgan was arrested by Garda in Donegal
Prosecuting lawyer John O’Neill said there was an application from the Probation Service for the court to revoke McCabe’s licence, due to run for another seven years.
A defence lawyer, however, asked for the case to be adjourned and to be heard by the sentencing Judge Kevin Finnegan, adding that the potential consequences for the rapist are “significant”.
McCabe was remanded back into custody until his appearance on Thursday in Belfast.
If found guilty at his forthcoming trial, McCabe will have to service out the remainder of his sentence for rape along with whatever jail term he receives for breaching the terms of his release licence.