A member of the Protestant Orange Order has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a 16-year-old Catholic girl during disturbances at a north Belfast sectarian interface on Monday.
John Aughey said he regretted any injuries caused to the teenager after his car drove into a group of people on Belfast’s Crumlin Road.
The 61-year-old from the loyalist Ballysillan area denied two charges of attempted murder in Belfast magistrates court on Wednesday.
Phoebe Clawson from north Belfast suffered a broken collarbone, broken pelvis and broken ankle when she became trapped under the vehicle outside the Ardoyne shops. Police and bystanders from Ardoyne had to tip up the Nissan car to one side to rescue her from underneath it.
Speaking in court, Aughey’s solicitor said his client has spoken of his regret at all stages in connection with the incident. It also emerged in court that Aughey is recovering from cancer and is the main carer for his wife, who is seriously ill.
A police sergeant opposed bail, but it was granted by district judge Fiona Bagnall with several conditions.
Aughey is to reside at a given address outside Belfast and is excluded from north Belfast, apart from attending medical appointments. He is also not to go within 500m of a parade, procession or protest, and he is barred from driving.
The Orangeman must also report to a local police station every week and is subject to a curfew of 11pm. He is due to appear in court again on 12 August.
Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that up to five petrol bombs were thrown at its officers in a second night of rioting along the Woodvale Road – the scene of more serious disorder on Monday night.
The initial trouble started after an Orange Order feeder parade returning from the main loyalist march in Belfast, commemorating the 325th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, was banned from returning via the Crumlin Road past the nationalist Ardoyne district.
On Tuesday night, the PSNI arrested a 16-year-old on the loyalist side for riotous behaviour.
