A 15-year-old boy has appeared before Derry Magistrates Court charged with assaulting a tourist who was visiting the city on New Year’s Eve.
The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before a special sitting of the court.
A PSNI officer told the court the youth had been arrested after a visitor to the city was assaulted by three people while walking on the historic City Walls.
The court was told at around 7.20pm on December 31, police responded to a report of disorderly behaviour in the Foyke Street area and a report of a tourist being assaulted on a section of Derry’s Walls (pictured) adjacent to the Millennium Forum.
The police officer added that three males were involved in the assault, which she said was captured on CCTV.
The officer continued that the defendant matched the description of one of the people involved in the assault, and was subsequently arrested.
The officer added that half an hour after being released from police custody, the youth approached a police officer and told him that he was in breach of his bail conditions, which stated that he must not enter the city centre after 8.30pm unless accompanied by a parent.
Deputy District Judge John Meehan told the court he was prepared to release the defendant on bail, under the condition that he resided at an address approved by the police, observed a curfew from 8pm to 7am, and did not contact his co-accused, the injured party or any witnesses to the alleged assault.
Judge Meehan then asked why the police asked for a provision placed on the bail condition whereby the defendant could only enter the city after 8.30pm if accompanied by a parent.
The officer replied that the alleged incidents took place in an area of the city centre which is ‘known for anti-social behaviour’ and the defendant not being able to come into the area would ‘help to reduce this’.
Judge Meehan said the particular bail condition on the defendant was ‘setting him up to fail’, and removed it.
The youth was released on bail of £300 with a further surety of £300 to appear in court again tomorrow.
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