Ballymena man in court over Belfast trouble

A Ballymena man allegedly attacked police vehicles with planks after becoming involved in Twelfth of July disorder, a court has heard.

It was said that the man had only gone to then city to watch the parade.

Trevor Ashcroft jumped up and down on a PSNI Landrover in north Belfast waving a Union flag “defiantly”, it was claimed.

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The 53-year-old, with a hostel address at Linenhall Street, Ballymena, faces a charge of riotous behaviour in the Woodvale area of the city.

He was among a number of accused to appear before a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Other defendants charged in connection with widespread violence included a boy just turned 14.

As Ashcroft was led into the dock, he made a series of outbursts to deny the allegation against him and claim he was “not a well person”.

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District Judge Harry McKibbin was told he has a learning disability and the mental age of an eight or nine-year-old.

Objecting to bail, a police constable set out the scale of trouble which erupted over the prohibited Orange Order parade through the Ardoyne area on 12 July.

He said dozens of officers had been injured as police came under attack from bottles, fireworks and petrol bombs.

It was alleged that CCTV footage showed Ashcroft on the bonnet of a PSNI Landrover.

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“He was waving a Union Jack flag in a defiant manner and attacking police vehicles with planks of woods,” the officer said.

A defence lawyer claimed Ashcroft’s learning disability had “clouded his judgment”.

She added: “He went to Belfast just to go and see the Twelfth day.”

Granting bail due to the accused’s medical situation, Judge McKibbin stressed there were special circumstances in the case.

He banned Ashcroft from going within half a mile of Belfast’s Crumlin Road and ordered him to report to police daily.

A curfew and alcohol prohibition was also imposed.