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Loyalist Mark Harbinson and 13-year-old girl ‘shared 1,761 texts’

Abuse accused denies relationship with child was of a sexual nature

Mark HarbisonA loyalist who allegedly had topless photos of a 13-year-old girl on his mobile phone has told a court he was also “quite shocked” that he and the girl sent 1,761 mobile text messages between them in just eight months.

Mark Harbinson (44), of Sheepwalk Road in Lisburn, later explained it was “unbelievable… ridiculous” that he’d asked for the pictures to be sent to him, and maintained his relationship in 2009 with the teenager was “friendly… but professional”.

Harbinson, who denies sexually abusing the girl, including once in an Orange hall, was giving evidence for a second day at his Cragavon Crown Court trial.

He denies 13 charges, two of which relate to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and her 13-year-old best friend, a boy, at a birthday party in February 2007. Eleven other charges involve sexual activity and inciting such activity with the girl between March and October 2009, when Harbinson was arrested with her in his car after police had earlier uncovered the topless pictures on his mobile. After his arrest police also found a picture of the girl stored on another mobile phone.

Yesterday prosecution QC David Hunter took Harbinson through the allegations against him and his initial response to them when questioned by police.

Mr Harbinson accepted that when the alleged sex assaults occurred he was aged 40 and 42, and that his alleged victims were “two girls, one of 14, another of 13 and a boy of 12”.

Mr Hunter said the charges involving the younger girl effectively accused Harbinson of “having a most intense relationship involving sexual activity over a period of eight months in 2009” when they sent “1,761 messages”.

Harbinson added later he was “quite shocked when the actual figure was given to me”.

Harbinson said there was no truth in any of the allegations, and that the three children “are telling the most appalling lies”.

Mr Hunter challenged Harbinson to “look at the jury” and to tell them that any relationship he had with the youngster was professional and not personal.

“Yes,” said Harbinson. “Yes, it was friendly, yes, but it was professional.”

The trial continues.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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