One policeman was injured and two men arrested during scuffles outside Limavady courthouse in Co Derry yesterday evening.
The violence started as two brothers appeared in court charged with the murder of Mr Jonathan Cairns (18), whose battered body was found partially concealed in a shallow grave near his Ballykelly home on April 25th.
Several dozen people gathered outside the courthouse about an hour before the defendants arrived. As Mr John McGroarty (20), an electrician, and his brother, Mr Philip McGroarty (29), a plasterer, were escorted into the courthouse, the crowd surged forward, throwing stones.
Both defendants, from Caman Park, Ballykelly, were punched during the melee and one man was arrested. The defendants appeared before a Resident Magistrate, Mrs Bernadette Kelly. They were remanded in custody to appear before Derry Magistrates' Court on December 6th.
There were further clashes as they were escorted from the courthouse. A police officer sustained a leg injury as police prevented the crowd from attacking the defendants. A second man was later arrested.