John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
Four members of the British Royal Navy charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm have been granted bail following an alleged incident at a Canadian Forces base in Halifax.
A provincial court judge ordered Simon Radford, Joshua Finbow, Craig Stoner and Darren Smalley to be released from custody on conditions.
Those conditions require them to stay at CFB Stadacona in Halifax and return to court on May 27.
The Crown said outside court last week that the men are alleged to have participated in a "group sexual assault" in a barracks at CFB Shearwater on April 10.
Crown attorney Scott Morrison said the men were in Nova Scotia participating in a hockey tournament with local Armed Forces personnel when they were arrested Thursday morning.
The commanding officer of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, which investigates serious matters relating to the Defence Department, said the allegations of sexual assault against the sailors is disturbing.
In a statement, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Bolduc said British authorities have co-operated with the investigation.