Boy, 17, in court over alleged Dungiven pub threats

St Canice's GAA Club in Dungiven where masked men allegedly issued threats in January

A 17-year-old boy has been remanded in custody accused of terror offences including IRA membership and having a gun.

The teenager, who cannot be identified, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday.

In January, a gang claiming to be from the New IRA entered four pubs and a local GAA club and issued threats against drug-dealers.

Two men have already appeared in court on charges linked to the incident.

The judge refused the teenager bail due to concerns about public safety.

He said that with the anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in four days, “it is utterly depressing that we are dealing with a young person … with the same sort of offences when I came to the bar 30 years ago".

He added: “The allegation here is of community control through the barrel of a gun.

“It’s very difficult to see in those circumstances a case that it more likely to raise a case of public protection than this one," he added.

“It doesn’t give me any joy to come to the conclusion that despite his age, he will be remanded into custody on the ground of public protection."

'He may simply not return'

The teeanager is also accused of having a handgun with intent to cause a person to fear unlawful violence would be used against them and with having a metal pole, on the Garvagh Road in Dungiven, on 19 January.

Two other men, Dermot Burke, 58, from the Drum Road in Dungiven and 30-year-old Michael Stephen Conwell, from Lettershendony Avenue in Drumahoe, are on remand in custody facing the same charges.

The court was told heard how the charges arise from three masked men entering licenced premises in Dungiven, claiming to be from the New IRA and issuing threats against drugs suppliers and users.

During the teenager’s unsuccessful bail application, the prosecution lawyer said that because of the alleged terrorist background there would be increased fears of witness interference.

She also emphasised that the gun, the metal pole and other items remained outstanding despite police searches so if the teenager was freed on bail, he could take steps to interfere with the investigation.

The prosecutor also argued that there was a risk of the 17-year-old absconding as he works in the Republic of Ireland and with a potentially lengthy prison sentence ahead of him if convicted, “he may simply not return.”

His defence lawyer argued the teenager was in a slightly different position from his co-accused in that because of his age, “there’s a presumption in favour of bail.

The barrister said the boy's parents were present and had "no truck with this type of behaviour and are aghast at his alleged involvement.”

Bail was refused and the judge adjourned the case to 8 April when the cases against the two other men will also be mentioned.