Pair to stand trial on republican parade riot charges

David Campbell, 22, and Brian Millar, 24, face charges connected to attacks on police following a republican anti-internment parade last August.

Nine officers were injured as violence flared after the march had been stopped for breaching a Parades Commission determination over its timing.

Bricks, missiles and petrol bombs were fired at police lines during the disorder close to the Oldpark Road and Rosapenna Street.

Millar, of Damascus Street in Belfast, and Campbell, with an address at Demesne Crescent in Downpatrick, are jointly charged with aiding and abetting the throwing of petrol bombs and possessing the devices in suspicious circumstances.

They appeared together at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

A prosecution lawyer submitted that the pair have a case to answer.

Both accused declined to give evidence or call witnesses at this stage.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall granted an application to have them returned for Crown Court trial.

She released the two accused on continuing bail until those proceedings get under way on a date to be fixed.