TWO youths have been remanded in custody after being caught in breach of bail terms in Enniskillen.
The pair, who cannot be identified due to their age, are both on bail from earlier this year on charges of burglary with intent to cause damage.
However they were brought before East Tyrone Magistrates Court in relation to separate breaches on July 14.
In respect of one of the accused, a police officer explained a disturbance was reported in the Ardowen Theatre around 10pm. On arrival officers observed the youth in the vicinity, which put him in breach of his 9pm curfew.
It emerged he is subject to electronic tagging and G4S had alerted police that he was not in his specified bail address.
He was arrested and whilst being taken into custody he unclipped his seat belt, lunged forward and wrapped both arms round the neck of an officer. He was restrained and handcuffed but proceeded to spit copiously over he central console of the police vehicle.
Objecting to bail, the police officer advised the youth has breached bail on eight occasions over his years of offending. She said, “We believe he will continue to consume alcohol and commit further offences whilst on bail.”
In relation to the second youth, the officer stated police were called to a disturbance at Belfast Road, Enniskillen at 9.50pm on July 14, and noted he was involved. He too is bound by a 9pm curfew and on being spoken to was advised he was in breach.
The youth attempted to evade police but was detained and arrested.
Police again objected to bail as there was a similar breach of curfew on July 12, and despite also being electronically tagged it did not stop him.
It also emerged on that occasion the youth had travelled to Limavady, a distance of some 80 miles from his bail address.
Having heard the details District Judge John Meehan commented, “Here we have two young persons who refuse to abide by bail. One quite brazenly attacks police, cavalier style in the back of their car. They are engaging in offending whilst on bail for serious charges. Both have long records already, in which theft proliferates along with criminal damage and public disorder. Their lifestyle – to put it mildly – is delinquent.”
Judge Meehan noted despite numerous convictions, one of the accused keeps being given Youth Conference Orders, which he felt “Isn’t getting the message across.”
The other is in the care of a residential unit but continually breaches his curfew despite the tag.
Revoking bail on both youths, Judge Meehan said, “There is evidence of continuing public order behaviour and repeated failure to abide by a curfew. One of the youth’s before me is deemed to be beyond the control of the residential facility.”
The pair, who remained seated outside the dock for the duration of the hearing, are to appear at Enniskillen Youth Court on a date to be fixed.
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