A man accused in the US of molesting children may travel to Belfast with his lawyer to question one of his alleged victims, but only if authorities allow the visit.
Florida Circuit Judge Ron Swanson agreed to send defendant John Burt, his lawyer and a prosecutor overseas at state expense to gather testimony from the 16-year-old girl who is living in the North.
The girl was 15 when she was allegedly abused in June at a home for troubled girls in Florida run by Burt, an anti-abortion protester who allegedly has links to gunmen and bombers who attacked clinics in the state.
Burt is charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, each accusing him of improper touching, and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct for allegedly writing a note propositioning the girl.
The teenager's father, who lives in South Florida, sent her to the North after Burt's arrest. He has refused to let her return to testify at trial but has agreed she could be questioned in Belfast, said Assistant State Attorney, Mr Harmon Massey.
Judge Swanson said he doubted the trip will occur, citing Burt's prior arrests on charges that include drunken driving, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Burt (65) spent 141 days in jail on a conviction for resisting arrest without violence after he pushed his way into an abortion clinic and broke equipment in 1986.
"I think at some point Britain's going to tell us Mr Burt's not welcome there," he said.
A spokesman for the Home Office told ireland.comhe could not comment on individual cases but that any visitor to the United Kingdom "would have to meet the immigration rules".
The judge ordered the trip because defence lawyer Ms Nicole Ferry objected to having the girl testify live by way of a satellite television link during the trial. Ms Ferry said she wanted to confront the teenager in person. The girl's testimony would be read to the jury.
PA