The father of murdered teenager Thomas McDonald was freed on bail yesterday after he allegedly admitted going into a blind rage over the destruction of his son's memorial.
The youth was run over by a car in north Belfast last September.
Mr Thomas Craig (39), a baker, from Motlke Street, in the loyalist Village area of south Belfast, had been remanded in custody on Monday on a charge of riotous behaviour at Whitewell Road in north Belfast last weekend.
At a bail hearing in Belfast High Court, a Crown lawyer said police were aware the memorial had been damaged and were maintaining a presence in the area when they saw Mr Craig hurling missiles at nationalists as well as shouting abuse at them and making obscene gestures.
Lord Justice Campbell said it was clear Mr Craig had been provoked and he said the court was impressed by references from two local politicians.
"The action of these public representatives speak a lot for the confidence they have that you will not engage in this sort of behaviour again," he told Craig as he released him on bail with a warning to stay out of the White City area
A woman motorist is awaiting trial on a charge of murdering 16-year-old Thomas McDonald, while two others, including a 15-year-old boy, have been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.