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Four in court over riot charges Riot charge six released on bail
(about 7 hours later)
Four people have appeared in Belfast Magistrates Court charged in connection with trouble in east Belfast over three nights. A 13-year-old schoolboy and five men have been released on bail following rioting at an east Belfast flashpoint earlier this week.
The men, whose ages range from 17 to 30, faced a number of charges including riotous behaviour, throwing a petrol bomb and damaging a police vehicle. All six were charged in connection with two nights of sectarian violence near the Albertbridge and Castlereagh Roads.
The charges relate to trouble in the Mountpottinger Road area, which went on into the early hours of Tuesday, and subsequent disturbances. Factions first clashed on Monday after a Sinn Fein rally to mark the closure of Mountpottinger Police Station.
They were all released on bail. The defendants, all from Belfast, were charged with riotous behaviour over the course of this week's disturbances.
Two other people, including a 13-year-old boy, are expected to appear in court later. George Garland, 30, from the Albertbridge Road, is also alleged to have thrown a petrol bomb and having two golf balls.
The disturbance began after a rally was held on Monday by Sinn Fein to mark the closure of Mountpottinger Police Station. Brian Millar, 18, from Beechfield Street, faces charges of damaging armour glass belonging to the PSNI and possession of a baseball bat.
Officers fired plastic baton rounds to break up trouble between groups of republican and loyalist youths on the Albertbridge and Castlereagh roads. Riotous
Police said up to 200 people were involved in Monday night's trouble. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, is also accused of throwing a petrol bomb.
Riotous behaviour Matthew Wood, 19, from Bannagh Corner, and the 13-year-old boy each faced a single count of riotous behaviour.
Appearing before Belfast Magistrates Court, Matthew Wood, 19, of Bannagh Corner, was charged with riotous behaviour. Ian Ogle, 36, of Medway Street, faces a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a hurling stick he is alleged to have been carrying.
Brian Millar, 18, of Beechfield Street, faced three charges including damaging a police vehicle and having a baseball bat with intent. A police constable involved in the case told Belfast Magistrates Court she could connect each of the defendants with the charges.
George Garland, 30, of Albertbridge Road, was accused of four offences including throwing a petrol bomb. She told the court that trouble had broken out on Monday and Tuesday nights, with a large crowd gathering again on Wednesday.
A 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons was charged with riotous behaviour and throwing a petrol bomb. A lawyer for Mr Wood said he denied rioting and claimed CCTV footage failed to show his client being involved.
A police constable told the court that trouble had broken out on Monday and Tuesday nights, with a large crowd gathering again on Wednesday. Hurl
District Judge Fiona Bagnall imposed a night-time curfew on the men and banned them from entering the area where the trouble flared, with some of the accused being told to live at other locations in the city. The 17-year-old's solicitor told the court the teenager had made admissions about the riotous behaviour but not the petrol bomb.
They are all due to appear again in court next month. Appearing for Mr Ogle as well, the solicitor claimed he had not brought the hurling stick to the scene.
The lawyer said: "He is known in the area and known to police in a positive way. He would normally leave his house and shout at young people to get back into their own homes."
District Judge Fiona Bagnall released each of the accused on bail, but imposed a night-time curfew on all of them.
She also banned them from entering the area where the trouble flared, with some of the suspects being told to live at other locations in the city.