Lawyer raises ‘serious concerns’ over Derry teen arrests

It follows an alleged serious assault on a man in his 60s in the Guildhall Square area on July 11. Both boys were released without charge after being questioned over a number of offences including GBH.

Their lawyer, Ciaran Shiels, of Madden & Finucane, said: “I want to stress that neither of the boys have a criminal record. They have never been arrested or received any police attention. Thursday was the first time either of them had seen the inside of a police station.”

Both boys answered every question put to them by interrogating officers, the lawyer explained, with one parent present, and police were “unable to contradict anything presented in any of their detailed accounts.”

Mr Shiels said: “The man (who was allegedly assaulted) was not initially threatening, although he appeared to have been drinking alcohol and he repeatedly tried to talk to them (the boys) about being an army veteran.

“The adult was initially ignored by the youth until my 13-year-old client, who was sitting on a ledge, asked him to leave.

“Words were exchanged and the 13-year-old boy was, without warning, struck in the face, below the left eye, by the adult while he was still seated.

“A male eyewitness present at the scene, on PSNI body camera footage, clearly confirms to police that this child was the victim of an assault.

“The 13-year-old immediately stood up and punched the adult in the face,” Mr Shiels added.

“This sequence of events repeated itself and the adult male fell to the ground after the 13-year-old boy counterattacked him a second time.

“I expect there to be body camera footage of any verbal account of the incident made by him to the police and emergency services who dealt with him, and these will also be available in due course.”

Mr Shiels concluded: “We have serious concerns about the legality and necessity of these arrests.”

The PSNI was given the opportunity to respond to Madden & Finucane’s lengthy statement but declined, saying it “would be inappropriate to comment” as there is an “ongoing police investigation”.