A UNIONIST councillor charged with rape and attempted rape was granted High Court bail yesterday.
Lawyers for William Wilkinson (31), a victims' campaigner and former DUP representative in Ballymena, Co Antrim, said he denied the charges. Mr Wilkinson also sits on Ballymena Borough Council as a United Unionist Coalition Party representative.
He was released on bail after a judge was told Willie Frazer, the leader of the Families Acting for Innocent Relatives group, was prepared to act as a surety.
Prosecutors said Mr Wilkinson, of Tully Road, Portglenone, Co Antrim, was arrested last Thursday by police who responded to a 999 call from a distressed woman.
Crown counsel David Reid told the court: "When police answered the phone they could hear someone shouting 'get off me', but nothing further was said."
Officers traced the call to a house in Derry where the woman claimed Mr Wilkinson raped her and then tried to have sex with her again, Mr Reid said.
