Castle Street: Man in court after teenagers assaulted
- Published
The attack on the teenagers happened in Castle Street in Belfast city centre
A 36-year-old man has appeared in court after three teenagers were attacked in Belfast in what police described as a sectarian hate crime.
Andrew McCullough was charged with two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent at Belfast Magistrates' Court.
The teenagers - all aged 18 - were hospitalised after the incident on Castle Street at 04:05 BST on Sunday.
One of the young men was wearing a GAA shirt, the court heard.
'Savage and unprovoked'
Police said two of the victims were punched and kicked in the head and body as they lay in the street.
One victim suffered a broken collar bone and wrist during the attack, which police described as "vicious and unprovoked".
McCullough, whose address was given as Greenvale in Belfast, claims he acted in self-defence.
He works as a cattle farmer in Hillsborough and has no previous criminal record, the court heard.
A 35-year-old man, also charged with a number of offences relating to the attack, is in custody after appearing in court on Monday.
Judge Steven Keown said it was "a case of extreme violence over a prolonged period, but also one based on sectarian views where the defendant is prepared to attack strangers on the basis of religion".
McCullough was refused bail and remanded in custody until next month.