A High Court judge has ruled that a Romanian teenager charged with the attempted rape of a schoolgirl in Ballymena, Co Antrim, must remain in custody. The decision, handed down today, comes after the judge cited a significant risk of flight, especially following claims the boy’s father planned to remove him from Northern Ireland if bail was granted.
Details of the Alleged Ballymena Attack
The 14-year-old boy is jointly charged with another 14-year-old in connection with a sexual assault on June 7 this year. The incident is reported to have sparked serious racially-motivated rioting in the Co Antrim town.
The prosecution alleges that the schoolgirl was dragged down an alleyway and into a garage in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. The attack reportedly stopped, allowing the victim to escape, after a voice was heard outside. Forensic evidence is claimed to link the defendant to the attempted rape.
Third Suspect Believed to Have Fled
The case involves a third person: a third teenage suspect is believed to have fled to Romania shortly after the alleged incident. This detail contributed significantly to the judge’s assessment of the flight risk posed by the defendant.
High Court Refuses Bail
During the bail application, prosecution counsel Charlene Dempsey raised concerns based on alleged comments made by the accused’s father. It was claimed the father indicated he would not keep the family in the jurisdiction or submit to jail time if his son was released on bail—a claim the defence barrister, Conn O’Neill, denied.
Mr O’Neill argued for the boy’s release, citing his young age and the fact that all travel documents had been relinquished.
However, Mr Justice O’Hara focused his decision on the potential for the accused to flee the jurisdiction. He highlighted that the defendant’s family had “no roots or reason to remain in Northern Ireland.”
Refusing bail, the judge stated:
“In my judgment it is necessary to protect the public by detaining him in custody until the trial takes place… Protection of the public includes not just protection from offending… but also in ensuring a trial takes place.”
The 14-year-old will therefore remain in custody pending the trial.
