Northern Ireland

Bench warrant issued for arrest of 12-year-old boy on rioting charge

A BENCH warrant was issued today for the arrest of a 12-year-old schoolboy who failed to turn up in court where he faces a charge of rioting.

The youth was arrested by police following disorder near a European election polling station in the Galliagh area of Derry on May 23.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with riotous assembly and with possessing a paint bomb at the time of his arrest.

At Derry Magistrates Court today his solicitor told District Judge Barney McElholm that the schoolboy was in care and had refused to leave the care home for his scheduled court appearance.

The judge said he was issuing the arrest warrant despite being loathe to do so as he was not going to have the child dictate when he would attend court.