Three members of the Jordanian Paralympic squad have been charged with committing sex offences in Northern Ireland.

A court has heard how police are still compiling evidence against the three men.

Omar Sami Qaradhi, 31, Faisal Hammash, 35 and Motaz Al Junaidi, 45, are members of Jordan’s Paralympic powerlifting team. They are accused of committing a series of sexual offenses while training in County Antrim ahead of the London games.

Wheelchair user Qaradhi, 31, faces three charges of sexual assault, including two against a child and one of voyeurism.

It is alleged he entered a women's changing room at the Antrim Forum leisure centre.

Hammash, 35, is accused of inciting two girls to engage in sexual activity.

Al Junaidi, 45, who also uses a wheelchair, is accused of sexual assault.

All three deny the charges.

Following the revelations, all three men were withdrawn from the Paralympic Games in London.

A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service has said police are awaiting the results of tests.

The three men were released on combined bail and sureties of £5,500 each upon their first court appearance in August.

The suspects have been excused from appearing at Tuesday's brief hearing at Antrim Magistrate's Court.

The case is due in court again on 27 November, but the District Judge Robert Alcorn has agreed to the men being absent from that appearance as well.

(IT)