Five in court over Ballyclare riot
Five men are to stand trial over rioting which broke out after police removed flags in Co Antrim, a judge has ruled.
The suspects are all accused of involvement in the violence at Ballyclare last July.
Petrol bombs and others missiles were thrown at police during the disorder and cars were also burnt out.
Trouble flared after flags near a Catholic church were taken down by police before the Twelfth of July.
Appearing at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for preliminary enquiry proceedings were: Richard Charnley, 24, of Clareville Park, Ballyclare; Chris Colhoun, 21, from Douglas Land, Doagh; Ronald Cowan, 55, of Lindara Drive, Larne; Mark Graham, 23, of Islay Street, Antrim; and James Steele, 30, from Ballycorr Green, Ballyclare.
All five are charged with riotous assembly between 8-11 July last year.
Charnley and Cowan are also both accused of criminal damage to a woman’s Suzuki Alto vehicle.
Each of the defendants declined to give any evidence or call witnesses at this stage in the proceedings.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall accepted a prosecution case that there was a prima facie case to answer.
She ordered that the five accused should all be returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
Each defendant was released on continuing bail until that hearing gets underway.
