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Riot accused 'feared by mother'

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Riot accused 'feared by mother'
A court has heard a teenager accused of vehicle hijacking and attacking police during Twelfth of July rioting in Belfast cannot be controlled.

Police claimed the 16-year-old youth was at the centre of serious disorder which erupted in the Ardoyne area.

A judge was told 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.

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 Landrover 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.

"From the very start right through until the early hours of the morning his activities were wide-ranging from attacking police officers with poles, pipes and other materials to the hijacking of the vehicle which was set alight."

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 the District Judge ruled there was too great a risk to release the accused at this stage.

Mr Donegan, of Dunclug Park, Ballymena, also failed to secure bail.

He faces a single charge of riotous assembly on the same date and location.

The sergeant told the court that Donegan admitted throwing stones during interview, but claimed there was also evidence that he was involved in kicking out at police lines.

"He's from Ballymena and I believe he specifically travelled down to the Ardoyne area to take part in these disturbances," he said.

His defence argued that Mr Donegan had gone there with his heavily pregnant partner to collect a childcare item from a cousin who lives in the area.

The court heard how the accused was allegedly seen wearing an Army mesh veil over his face.

Remanding him in custody the judge said: "I do have a grave concern at this stage that he did indeed travel in order to become involved in this matter.

"That is the tipping point for me as far as likely re-offending is concerned."

Both accused will appear again before the court next month.

© UTV News

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At 12:06 on 29 July 2010, BIG ERNEST wrote:
paddy c , so you know every republican now do you ? zzzzzzzzzzzzz !!! sure you do !!
At 11:55 on 29 July 2010, Gary Donaghy wrote:
He was there to pick up a childcare item from a relative, why were the orange order there? I come across alot of people who cant even put their names to statements, but prefer to use names such as 'paddy' 'mcgurk' and gerry to give them a little more credability. Unfortunately, some people choose to utilise thier brains. And 'paddy c', there are many republicans in all areas, that you would have no idea about. How can you think that you are privvy to every republican-minded person in your town? In no way am I claiming this man was a republican, however, who claimed he was? was it other republicans are just that bunch of swanky former republicans turned celebrities. And one other thing, the boys that shot over 70 baton rounds were from fermanagh so either condemn that, or your agenda is clear for all to see. HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF! AND YOU ARE TWIDDLING YOUR THUMBS!
At 01:46 on 29 July 2010, mcgurk wrote:
what i dont get is why anyone would travel all the way up from ballymeana to be offeneded by a 10 minute parade that "goe's" past a few shops in ardoyne.It proves the point that these bigots need the most sevearest punishment available to the courts.They were there for no other reason other than roiting with police.Or maybe he just went a walk "30" mile to get a pint of milk and a loaf lol...These people make me sick. The people from ardoyne itself dont even want these scumbags there.......It also proves the point that the orange order are not just going to be speaking with residents "does'nt it"...........
At 23:56 on 28 July 2010, Paddy C wrote:
This boy is NOT a good bird. If he is a Republican it is news to me and Ive been born and raised in this town 40 odd years.
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