A man who had applied for a relaxation of bail conditions to help get an anti-internment bonfire in Derry moved "did not have the requisite influence" on the young people involved, a court has heard.
Jude McCrory (21), of Magowan Park in the city, is on bail charged with stealing a police officer's cap during rioting in the city on July 10.
Part of those conditions was that he was not allowed to enter the Bogside.
On Wednesday an application was made to allow McCrory to enter the area to try to sort out the bonfire and this was granted on a temporary basis.
At the full hearing yesterday, District Judge Barney McElholm said McCrory was supposed to try to ensure the bonfire "was inoffensive and passed off with minimum disruption to the local community".
"It was in fact grossly offensive, not least by the fact it was ignited by petrol bombs," he said.
"On top of that there were references to murdered police officers and prison staff.
"Despite the best efforts this gross charade went ahead."
Defence barrister Stephen Chapman told Derry Magistrate's Court, sitting in Omagh, that McCrory had been asked by police to help deal with the bonfire issue.
However, he said it had proved "physically impossible" for him to get it moved in the time concerned.
The judge said it was obvious the defendant did not have the necessary influence with the young people who placed poppy wreaths and flags on the pyre and "there are others who influence them more".
Judge McElholm also said it was disappointing that hundreds of people attended the bonfire, as he believed "anyone with a shred of decency when they saw this they would have turned and walked away".
He refused to vary McCrory's bail conditions but did remove a curfew.
The case was adjourned until September 19.
