Charges Dropped in Ballymena Schoolgirl Assault Case
In a significant legal development, a judge has ordered the withdrawal of attempted rape charges against two Romanian teenagers in Ballymena. The boys, aged 14 and 15, have been released from custody after being held for more than five months following the alleged incident that triggered widespread racial unrest in the County Antrim town.
Evidential Developments Halt Prosecution
The Belfast Youth Court heard that the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) applied to end criminal proceedings based on what they described as 'significant evidential developments'. The court granted permission to withdraw the charges against both defendants, who had been jointly accused of the attempted rape of a schoolgirl on June 7 this year.
A PPS lawyer explained to the court that prosecution decisions must be kept under continuous review, stating: 'Where new information or evidence becomes available, it will be considered along with all existing information and evidence in the case. We have recently been made aware of significant evidential developments in this case, and in light of this new evidence it has been determined that the test for prosecution is no longer met on evidential grounds.'
Case Background and Community Impact
Previous court hearings had heard claims that the alleged victim was dragged down an alleyway into a garage in Ballymena's Clonavon Terrace area. The court had been told she managed to escape when the three teenagers involved were disturbed by an external noise and fled the scene.
The case had profound community consequences, with the alleged incident sparking sustained racially-motivated rioting in Ballymena during the summer months, which subsequently spread to other parts of Northern Ireland. A third youth suspected of involvement is believed to have fled to Romania the day after the alleged attack.
Representatives from both the prosecution and police investigation teams have met with the complainant and her family to explain the reasons for discontinuing the case. The two teenage defendants, represented by barristers Conn O'Neill and Victoria Loane under instructions from O'Neill Solicitors, did not appear during the brief hearing.
Granting the order sought by the PPS, District Judge George Conner acknowledged the sensitivity of the case while remarking: 'The matters are now marked withdrawn. The less I say about it the better.'
