The RUC fears for the safety of a 14-year-old schoolgirl accused of burying the dismembered body of a murdered teenager, Sylvia Fleming, the High Court in Belfast was told yesterday.
A barrister, Mr Brian G. McCartney, said the RUC's concerns were confirmed by an incident on Monday when her family home in Co Tyrone was destroyed in an arson attack. He asked a judge to adjourn the girl's bail application "until such time as it is deemed appropriate to proceed".
A Crown lawyer had no objection, and Mr Justice Pringle adjourned the application indefinitely. The girl, who cannot be named as she is under 17, was in court for the brief hearing. She sat beside a woman officer from the remand centre where she is being detained.
The charge alleged that between April 2nd and May 31st last, knowing that Sylvia Fleming had been murdered, she unlawfully assisted in the disposal of her body. She and a 19-year-old man facing the same charge had been remanded in custody at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court last Monday.
A 26-year-old man and a 15year-old youth were also remanded in custody on a charge of murdering 17-year-old Ms Fleming, who disappeared two months ago. Police began a search, and her picture was circulated to the media. Her dismembered body was found last Saturday in a partially-built house near Omagh.
An RUC officer was not seriously hurt when he was engulfed in flames when struck by a petrol bomb at Knockshee Park, Mullaghmore, Omagh. Earlier, police Land Rovers had come under attack from a group of people using stones, bricks and petrol bombs, and two men were arrested for public order offences.
It was the second night of trouble in the area following the arrests of the four people.