Court Sets Strict Exclusion Zone for North Belfast Man After UU Incident

A 39-year-old North Belfast man has been ordered to stay away from the Ulster University campus following allegations of an incident in the city centre ladies' toilets. Michael McNally, of Cliftonpark Avenue, was granted bail at the High Court today under strict conditions that include a total exclusion zone covering the main campus and student accommodation blocks.

The court heard details of an incident on December 2 last year, where a woman reported seeing a man peering over the top of a toilet cubicle while performing a sexual act. McNally was later identified through CCTV footage. Although he denied involvement during police interviews, he has spent over four months in custody. He was recently detained again after making two further attempts to enter the university grounds while on initial release.

During the hearing, it was revealed that McNally has a record of 488 previous convictions, five of which are for offences of indecency. His defence barrister highlighted that the defendant suffers from brain damage resulting from substance use in his youth. Despite these challenges, the prosecution raised concerns about his repeated attempts to return to the campus site.

Mr Justice McAlinden granted bail but issued a stern warning, directing McNally to maintain immediate contact with his community support worker. The judge made it clear that any further attempts to visit the Ulster University area would result in serious consequences, emphasizing the need to protect the privacy and safety of those on campus.