A JOINER was remanded in custody yesterday accused of intimidating Romanians out of their home in Belfast.
Shane Murphy (21) faces a second charge of acting provocatively by shouting racist comments at a rally in the city.
Mr Murphy, of Donegall Road, Belfast, denies both alleged offences, his lawyer stressed.
He appeared before the city’s Magistrates Court following a series of attacks which forced more than 100 Romanian migrants to flee their homes and seek refuge in a church hall. Two youths, aged 15 and 16, were previously charged in connection with events around the alleged intimidation and provocation.
Mr Murphy is accused of using threats or menaces against the occupants of a house on Belgravia Avenue on June 11th-15th. It is also alleged he made racist remarks during a protest against the intimidation held on the Lisburn Road, south Belfast. A police officer who said he could connect the accused with the offences confirmed he had appeared by arrangement at a PSNI station on Monday.
The court was told that during interviews Mr Murphy denied involvement in the events at Belgravia Avenue or the Lisburn Road. Opposing bail, the officer said police were concerned about possible interference with witnesses. District Judge George Conner refused to grant bail. Mr Murphy was remanded in custody to appear again via video-link next month.