Police prevent 'scheduled fight' involving 15 teenagers - Derry Magistrates' Court told

Police were able to prevent 'scheduled fight' in the city on Saturday involving around 15 teenagers, Derry Magistrates' Court heard today.

A police officer told the court that a 15-year-old youth currently on bail for a petrol bomb charge was believed to be one of those in attendance. 

The youth was appearing charged with breaching his bail on March 8 by being in the company of more than two people something prohibited by his conditions.

A police officer told the court that police intelligence was received about a scheduled fight and police attended. 

When police arrived a group of youths ran off and the fight did not take place.

A police officer recognised the defendant as being part of the group and he was later arrested for breaching his bail. 

The court heard that the youth was currently on bail for possessing a petrol bomb in Spencer Road last August.

The officer said that this was the sixth breach of bail by the youth and he added that police believed if they had not prevented the fight the youth would have been part of it.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that as a youth there was a presumption to bail regardless of how many breaches there was.

He said that the last breach had been two months ago. 

District Judge Oonagh Mullan released the youth and adjourned the case until March 18 warning him any breach would not be tolerated.

The youth was released on continuing bail with conditions he is not to be in the company of more than two people apart from his family, not to be within 100 metres of any march or demonstration and to observe a curfew.