Riot accused youth 'cannot be controlled'
A TEENAGER accused of vehicle hijacking and attacking police during Twelfth of July rioting in Belfast cannot be controlled, a court heard yesterday.
Police claimed the 16-year-old youth was at the centre of serious disorder which erupted in the Ardoyne area.
The suspect, who cannot be named because of his age, was in the middle of rolling a cannabis joint when officers went to arrest him two weeks later, a judge was told.
He was remanded in custody along with 26-year-old Paul Donegan, who is alleged to have travelled nearly 30 miles from his home in Ballymena to take part in the trouble.
The teenager faces charges of riotous assembly; attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to police officers with intent; possession of an offensive weapon, namely a 5ft pole and bottles; attempting to damage a police Land Rover wing mirror and window; seizing control of a Toyota car by force; destroying the vehicle; and possession of herbal cannabis.
A detective sergeant, who said he could connect him with the offences, told Belfast Magistrates’ Court: “This individual I would say, having examined CCTV footage, would be one of the most prominent individuals within that riot.”
Opposing his release, the officer claimed the youth could not be controlled, with even his own mother said to be in a degree of fear of him.
A defence solicitor claimed there were serious problems with the strength of the police evidence against his client.
He argued that the teenager had been identified wearing a hooded top and pointed out that the vast majority of the crowd at Ardoyne were similarly dressed.
But District Judge Fiona Bagnall ruled there was too great a risk to release the accused at this stage.
Donegan, of Dunclug Park, Ballymena, also failed to secure bail.
He faces a single charge of riotous assembly on the same date and location.
“He’s from Ballymena and I believe he specifically travelled down to the Ardoyne area to take part in these disturbances,” said the sergeant.
Michael Madden, defending, argued that Donegan had gone there with his heavily pregnant partner to collect a childcare item from a cousin who lives in the area.
But the court heard how the accused was allegedly seen wearing an Army mesh veil over his face.
He was remanded into custody.
Both accused will appear again before the court next month.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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