Prosecutors claimed Louis McKenna could have been exploited by dissident republicans

A homeless man allegedly found having sex with a mattress in a car park is under threat from paramilitaries.

Sunday Life can reveal that Martin Gregory Coll, 52, who appeared in the dock last week on a charge of “committing an act of lewd, obscene and disgusting nature and of outraging public decency”, has received a number of warnings from dissident republicans.

Details of the threat were given just days before the Derryman, of no fixed abode, was arrested in the car park of an old people’s home.

Police allege they found the 52-year-old half naked and watching porn on a hand-held DVD player, whilst simulating sex with the mattress outside homes in the Lavery Fold area on Asylum Road.

He appeared at a special sitting of Londonderry Magistrate’s Court on Monday in relation to the August 23 incident and was remanded in custody.

But on August 21, a barrister acting for Coll on a separate matter told the court the 52-year-old had come to the “adverse attention of paramilitary-style organisations” because of his criminal record.

In court on Monday, District Judge Peter King was told Coll had currently 72 convictions on his record, and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Coll was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, August 23.

The incident is alleged to have taken place after Coll was observed entering the rear car park at 5am on Saturday, August 23.

The police sergeant told the court: “He went to the rear car park which is used by staff and by residents. Officers went to check and when they arrived they heard what they described as sex sounds emanating from behind a fence in the car park.

“He had a hand-held DVD player with the volume turned loud.

“He was lying on a mattress naked from the waist down with his trousers and underwear down by his ankles and he was simulating sex with the mattress.”

Coll was refused bail at Monday’s hearing, and was due to reappear before the court on Thursday. But the video link hearing was adjourned until September 25.

Belfast Telegraph