14-year-old girl refused bail after judge says she was a danger to herself and others

A 14-year-old girl has been refused bail at Derry Magistrates' Court today after a judge said she was a danger to herself and others.

The girl, the court was told, was accused of assaulting staff in a children's home on February 6 and February 10.

A police officer connected the girl to the charges and opposed bail. 

He said on February 6 the girl had approached a member of staff who was cleaning a room.

In the course of the incident a brush broke and the girl was said to have assaulted the staff member with it.

The girl then left the home and was missing for some 15 hours. 

On February 10 the girl was said to have assaulted the same staff member and in the course of that assault she was said to have pulled 'clumps' of her hair out as well as kicking and punching her.

The officer opposed bail saying the girl was a danger to herself and had been reported missing on 24 occasions in the last 12 months.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that it was extremely dangerous for a young girl to be wandering the streets at night.

He said there had been a number of attacks on women and girls and he slammed 'the accursed Internet ' where he said 'so called influencers spread poisonous propaganda that it was okay to assault women.'

The judge said he was not prepared to release this girl to a non secure facility.

Defence counsel Grainne McAnaney said in that case could the court refuse the application. 

The girl will appear again on February 18.