NI man indicted on child sex charges

Mr Mallon was arrested in Chicago

The former acting chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency has been indicted on child sex charges by a grand jury in the United States.

Stan Mallon, 62, who was acting chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency in Northern Ireland, was arrested at a hotel in Chicago on 8 March by officers from Cook County Sheriff's child exploitation unit.

The father of five is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Chicago.

He was charged with attempting to coerce a 14-year-old girl to have sex with him after he contacted her over the internet.

Stan Mallon is expected to contest the charges

The girl was actually an undercover police officer, it is alleged.

He also faces the charge of travelling interstate to engage in sexual acts with a minor.

Following the Federal Grand Jury indictment, Assistant US Attorney Markus Funk said Mr Mallon could now be brought before a court within days.

If convicted, Mr Mallon could face a maximum penalty on each charge of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

His solicitor has said he will contest the charges.

The Ulster Scots Agency is one of the cultural cross-border bodies set up under the Good Friday peace agreement.