A 15-YEAR-OLD boy appeared in court yesterday charged with the intimidation of Romanians living in Belfast.
He is also accused, along with a 16-year-old youth, of provocative behaviour at an anti-racism rally in the city. The two suspects, who cannot be named because of their ages, were remanded on continuing police bail. They were arrested following a series of attacks and vandalism which forced more than 100 Romanian migrants to flee their homes and seek refuge in a church hall.
Belfast Youth Court was told the 15-year-old is accused of making threats against the occupants of a house on Belgravia Avenue in south Belfast on June 13th. He faces a further charge of being part of a group involved in behaviour likely to provoke a breach of the peace two days later when a demonstration against racist attacks was held.
The accused was remanded on bail to appear again next month.
The 16-year-old faces only one count in connection with the alleged provocative behaviour on June 15th. During the hearing his solicitor, Brian Archer, said he wanted to make it clear that the charge did not relate to the harassment of Romanians.
Mr Archer’s client was released on continuing bail while his case was adjourned for one week.
District Judge George Conner, who warned against any identification of the youths, also made an apparent reference to the wider intimidation of migrant families.
He said: “I trust those responsible for this will be brought before the court.”
A 21-year-old man was last night charged with intimidating Romanians in south Belfast. The man is also accused of provocative behaviour following disturbances earlier this month which led to more than 100 migrants fleeing their homes.
He will appear at Laganside Magistrates Court today.