A court has heard details regarding the alleged rape and sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Ballymena by three Romanian males, which led to protests and disorder in the Co Antrim town last month.
The Ballymena Youth Court also heard that two of the suspects, who are 14 years old, were arrested within hours of the alleged attack, but that a third suspect has fled to Romania.
The bail application hearing, which was contested by the PSNI, heard that the schoolgirl was walking along a street in the town when she says she was dragged into a garage down an alleyway by three males.
There were two mattresses in the garage, the girl later told the PSNI after they had been contacted by her grandmother who reported that the schoolgirl had been assaulted by three males in Harryville in Ballymena.
The court heard that it was alleged that two of the males had their genitals exposed and “started touching themselves”, according to the Sunday World.
The schoolgirl said that the two males tried to force her to perform sex acts on them – while she also said that the third male, who has since left the country, “raped her”.
After hearing a male voice outside, the three suspects allegedly ran off and the girl was able to leave the garage and get help, the court heard.
Opposing bail, a PSNI detective constable told the District Court judge that the police had strong concerns that the suspect might leave the jurisdiction, similar to his co-accused who had left within hours of the two 14-year olds being arrested.
“We believe that, given the significant public disorder that descended after the incident, there’s a risk that, if released, this defendant will leave the jurisdiction and we are not content that any conditions can be put in place to prevent that,” said the officer, according to the Sunday World. The bail application was adjourned to August 6th.
Disorder in relation to reporting of the alleged sexual assaults began on in Ballymena last month after a peaceful protest in support of the schoolgirl and her family was held in the town.
Local MLA, Paul Frew of the DUP, said that he had “consistently raised the alarm that people are living in fear” in the town, and said “the PSNI and statutory agencies need to urgently get to grips with the challenges arising in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the wider consequences of illegal immigration.”
“These are sensitive but serious issues, and Government must not look the other way,” Mr Frew said, adding that his “warnings have been followed by two shocking incidents of serious sexual assault on teenage girls, carried out in broad daylight.”
“We must see justice done for these heinous crimes. Women and girls must be protected from those who wish them harm. This requires every arm of Government to work together with urgency, focus and purpose.”
Mr Frew condemned the violence which broke out and which saw the homes of immigrants targeted.
The family of the alleged victim issued a statement which read: “As a family we would like to let people know that we were in no way involved or condone any trouble that happened after tonight’s peaceful protest.
“We would again like to thank the people who came from far and wide to support us and ask that justice be served in the correct manner.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the violence in Ballymena as “pure racism, there’s no other way to dress it up.” The Sinn Féin deputy leader said that the attacks were “abhorrent and must stop immediately.”
She said those responsible “bring nothing to our communities but hatred, fear and division,” adding: “No-one, now or ever, should feel the need to place a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity just to avoid being targeted.”
Ms O’Neill said it was “important that political leaders are very clear in terms of the language that they use and the words that they use and that they don’t conflate issues”.
Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP, said that there are “some very serious issues in terms of the disorder and violence, the absolute unacceptable nature of the thuggery that we have seen over the course of the last two days.”