High profile loyalist Mark Harbinson has been remanded in custody charged with a number of sexual offences involving a young girl.
The well-known loyalist, from Sheepwalk Road in Stoneyford, came to prominence during the Drumcree dispute.
He faces five charges involving a 13-year-old girl he is alleged to have met at Stoneyford Orange Hall through his involvement with the local band.
They include rape, sexual touching of a person under 16 and possessing indecent images of a child.
The court heard that on Friday police had searched Harbinson's home on suspicion that he possessed indecent images.
A number of items were seized including mobile phones and computer storage equipment.
On Monday morning Harbinson was arrested as he met with the 13-year-old in his car.
A Detective Constable told that during police interviews Harbinson said he had become paranoid because of the police intervention and that he wanted to meet the girl to tell her to get a new phone.
The detective said forensic tests later revealed two indecent images of the girl on one of Harbinson's phones.
The defence solicitor asked the policeman to confirm that the pictures had been sent to his client from the girl's phone.
The detective said the child had told officers she had sent the photos at the request of the accused.
Applying for bail, Hardinson's solicitor Paul Dougan told the court his client was a married man with a six-month-old baby.
He said his client vigorously denies the charges against him.
Rejecting his bail application, the judge described the charges as "very serious" and against "a very vulnerable victim".
Harbinson was remanded in custody until November 24th.
© UTV News