SIXTEEN people, including two juveniles, appeared at Athlone District Court yesterday on charges arising out of a "riot" which occurred at St Mel's Terrace in the town last Monday night.
The 16, the youngest aged 13 were all charged with offences under the Public Order Act and the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Insp Joe Shelley told the court the defendants had been charged in relation to an incident at approximately 1 a.m. in St Mel's Terrace, where various disturbances took place.
Remarking that "we have a riot situation on our hands in St Mel's" Judge James O'Sullivan refused a number of bail applications from defence solicitors. He remanded 14 of the defendants in custody to Athlone District Court on Tuesday next.
He released the two juveniles on their own bail to appear at the same sitting.
Judge O'Sullivan said this was not the first time such incidents had occurred at St Mel's Terrace. He recalled how in 1985 there had been a tragic ending, although he was not saying the two incidents were related.