A former pastor whose sex offender son is currently on remand in Maghaberry Prison facing charges of possessing child pornography and breaching his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) has made a plea for his son to be released on bail.

William Mullan Jnr. (42), of Old Rossorry Park, Enniskillen, appeared via videolink from the prison to Enniskillen Magistrates Court where his father, William Mullan Snr., made a submission as part of a bail application.

Mullan Jnr. is charged with breaking a SOPO by using an alias and having two mobile phones facilitating internet access which were not approved by his Designated Risk Manager.

He was further in possession of, distributed and deleted indecent images of children and communicated with children on Snapchat.

Offending occurred in October, 2023.

Making the bail application to District Judge Alana McSorley, Mullan's solicitor, Michael Fahy, said there had been a "significant change in circumstances" to the status of the case, including the delay in the examination of the phones Mullan Jnr. possessed, the care of his mother, and correspondence from a counsellor who agreed to provide the defendant with weekly counselling sessions if he was released to deal with his addiction to child pornography.

Mr. Fahy said that with delays on the examination of the mobile phones, as well as the possibility of a laptop to be examined, the case could be delayed for up to 18 months, by which time Mullan Jnr. would have spent the equivalent of a three-year sentence in prison.

Mr. Mullan Snr. then took to the witness box to detail the issues he faced in caring for his wife.

He said his son was a great help in the care of his ill wife, who he said had to be moved by at least two people.

Mr. Mullan Snr. said care workers came in at various times during the day, but when they were not there, it was left to him to do it.

"William, while I don't agree with what he done, he has been very, very kind to his mother and myself," Mr. Mullan Snr. explained to the court.

He reiterated several times that he did not condone what his son was accused of doing.

He said his son was the "quiet member of the family", and had lived with his parents his whole life, and that he looked after everything in the home before he was arrested.

But now, since his son's arrest, and when carers are not at the house, Mr. Mullan Snr. has to move his wife by himself, such as from the bedroom to the bathroom.

"I was doing it on my own," he said.  "William and I can manage. Since William was taken, that is left for me to do."

Mr. Mullan Snr. said he felt entitled to some consideration around this, and repeated that his son was a "quiet fella".

He also agreed that if there was a counsellor to help his son with these "very serious matters", they should be allowed to.

When asked by District Judge Alana McSorley why he could not get his other sons to help with his mother, he said he did not want them in the press.

Detective Constable John Armstrong gave evidence after Mr. Mullan Snr., and said while he understood the difficulties that Mr. Mullan Snr. was in, it did not change his stance that Mullan Jnr. would reoffend if released on bail.

He said the defendant had breached his SOPO, and had 2,500 images of young children from babies to 17-year-olds on the phones.

DC Armstrong said he did not believe bail conditions were adequate to protect young people from this behaviour, and while there was no contact between the children and Mullan Jnr., these children were abused regardless if Mullan Jnr. was involved in that.

On the counselling aspect, DC Armstrong said he spoke to Mullan Jnr.'s previous probation officer, who said all courses available to him were completed, and that "without having someone on his shoulder 24/7" he did not see how Mullan Jnr. could be policed.

Referring to the delay due to the examination of the mobile phones, DC Armstrong said it would be weeks rather than months for them to be examined.

Refusing bail, Judge McSorley said she had "great sympathy" for Mr. Mullan Snr., but the court had to assess the risk Mullan Jnr. posed, and this was significant, so bail was refused.

The case will be heard again on November 11.