A 15-year-old boy has been remanded over charges of rioting in Belfast.
The charges relate to rioting in the Broadway area of the city on July 16th and in the Sandy Row area on August 5th.
The teenager has been charged with two counts of rioting, on July 16th and on August 5th, and one count of possession of a weapon with intent on July 16th.
He appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court via video-link on Wednesday morning and indicated he understood the charges.
The Music Quiz: Which Kylie Minogue song contains ‘one of pop music’s most violent and distressing lyrics’?
Have your say: What is your favourite moment from the 2024 Olympics?
Conservative rhetoric on migrants helped prepare ground for far-right riots, say critics
Are EVs too heavy for multistorey car parks?
Police opposed an application for bail on the basis of a high risk of reoffending, risk to public safety and risk of damage to property.
The court heard that on July 15-16th, the Broadway area saw “sustained and violent disorder from a small group of males” and police were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry. The defendant was described as being identified in the area on July 16th from police drone footage being within the “group of main protagonists” and “during a critical time being part of a group throwing masonry”.
A police officer said during interview, the defendant admitted it was him in the footage and that he threw masonry, “because everyone else was doing it”.
The court was told that on Saturday, August 3rd, Belfast experienced widespread violent disorder not seen in years in the city, which led to racially aggravated crime with businesses and hospitality premises being the target of criminal damage and arson.
On Monday August 5th, they said, the defendant was identified on CCTV with a group of males pushing towards the entrance to a hostel and police officers pushed the group back. However, the group with the defendant re-emerged and officers retreated to their vehicles while coming under fire with missiles and bottles.
They said that, during interview, the defendant admitted his presence and that he was with his friends. Asked why he was there, the defendant stated he was with his friends.
A defence lawyer said the applicant for bail is a 15-year-old child and described him as vulnerable.
“He seems to have been drawn to these incidents of disorder like a moth to the light,” he said.
“Although in relation to the first incident, he has accepted throwing a piece of what police describe as masonry, but what I understand is closer to a stone. One stone in the first incident. In relation to the second and third incidents, the case really against him is based on his presence in the area which he has frankly and honestly accepted. He is not observed throwing anything or damaging any property. He is simply there, along with depressingly, a lot of other very young persons.”
Bail was refused on the basis of a suitable bail address not being supplied and risk to the public.
The judge said at this point in time, there is no approved address offered by the defence, “therefore the test is met that it is necessary to protect the public because of the ongoing disturbances to remand him in custody”.
He added: “If an alternative address is made available, because he is a child, the court will look very sympathetically upon that.” – PA