THREE BELFAST men who appeared in court today accused of targeting suspected sex offenders and trying to menace a journalist have been banned from any further paedophile hunting activities.
According to the Irish Times, George Keenan, Richard Curtis and Tim Heron were also banned from using any social media platforms, dating apps or mobile phones with internet access and told to stay away from anyone associated with paedophile hunter groups.
The men were bailed on assault, false imprisonment and attempted intimidation charges.
They appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court this afternoon in connection with an incident involving BBC reporter Kevin Magee earlier this month.
Footage of the encounter showed the journalist being confronted by a group at a coffee shop on February 6th.
The men then followed Mr Magee outside and into another store, before blocking his car from leaving the scene.
A series of further charges were put to all three men in connection with alleged meetings with named individuals at a number of locations in Northern Ireland. They included counts of false imprisonment, attempting to cause suspects to leave place of occupation and common assault.
The men are members of a vigilante paedophile hunter group who pose as children online in order to entice paedophiles into meeting them in public. They then film their encounter with the individual before posting the entire, unedited footage on social media.
The group encountered Magee following an attempted interview at the home of one of these men, Mr Keenan.
Judge Fiona Bagnall adjourned the case to April 17th.
