A teenager who was allegedly part of a crowd who threw a petrol bomb into the open front door of a police Land Rover was arrested after the Coastguard retrieved him from Belfast Lough, a court heard today.
Belfast Magistrates Court also heard claims that as he was being chased by a PSNI inspector who had been set on fire by the petrol bomb, 18-year-old Ryan Fowles discarded a face covering and gloves when he entered the water in Carrick.
Appearing in the dock, Fowles, with an address on the Larne Road in Carrick, was charged with rioting on 9 June this year.
During a contested application for bail, a police officer outlined how a crowd of masked rioters were attacking police in Carrick on Tuesday evening, hurling masonry and paint bombs at a police Land Rover.
A street had been blocked by bins set on fire in the middle of the road and the court heard that when an inspector opened the door to move one out of the way, a rioter stepped forward and threw a lit petrol bomb through the open passenger door. The petrol bomb ignited and the inspector was set on fire and suffered burn injuries but after it was extinguished, he gave chase to one of the alleged rioters.
Fowles ran across the Marine Highway and into the sea, allegedly discarding gloves and a face covering into the water. The court heard he remained in the water until the Coastguard and his dad arrived to retrieve him.
Although initially arrested, Fowles was released to go to hospital for treatment for a broken arm but following a phone call on Wednesday, he voluntarily presented himself to police.
Submitting that Fowles should be refused bail over concerns about further offending and the risk of further public disorder, the officer added that a remand in custody would send a “strong message to deter others from participating” in further disruption.
Defence solicitor Hamill Clawson, from Reid Black Solicitors, argued that despite the statement of the police inspector, Fowles could not be identified on CCTV footage as taking part in the riot. He told the court that interviewing officers accepted that Fowles could not be seen on the footage.
According to the defendant, he had been watching the disruption rather than taking part when “he was struck with a baton and in fear, he ran and got into the sea”.
Submitting that the sole evidence was the alleged observations of the inspector, Mr Hamill highlighted that in addition to mental health difficulties and a diagnosis of autism, Fowles has a completely clear record so with conditions, he could be granted bail.
District Judge Anne Marshall said while Mr Clawson had made every point that he could, “given the ongoing public disorder, I am satisfied that there is risk of further offending, a risk of harm and public disorder”.
Accordingly, she refused bail and Fowles was remanded in custody with the case adjourned to 9 July.
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