A 12-year-old youth has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today charged with stealing a poppy wreath from the war memorial in the city on November 8.
The youth, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged with the theft. He was also charged with criminal damage to placards and other items on a bonfire on August 15 and criminal damage to a police vehicle on October 26.
A police officer connected the accused to the charges.
The court heard that at 8pm on November 8, CCTV operators observed a group of youths stealing four poppy wreaths from the war memorial in the Diamond, where they had been laid on Sunday morning.
The youth was arrested in the Lecky Road area and told police he had been instructed to take the wreath. He made full admissions.
The court heard that the youth was also observed at a bonfire in the Lecky Road area, where items were burned on August 15.
When interviewed and shown footage, the youth denied the offences.
The court was further told that on October 26, the youth was observed breaking the rear window of a police vehicle.
A police officer said he was aware of the legislation relating to youth defendants but was concerned that the offending was becoming more regular.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said the theft of the wreath was “a reprehensible offence”.
He said there was a 15-year-old in the company who may have been influencing his client.
The solicitor said it was “a stupid and nasty thing to do” but added that the defendant had family support.
He added that a night in custody may have been a salutary lesson for him.
District Judge Suzanne Rice told the youth that “for someone so young, you have a very bad record”.
She said the youth’s record was “a badge of disgrace, not a badge of honour”.
He was granted bail with conditions that he is not to enter the city centre within Derry’s walls or Guildhall Square.
He is also not to be in the company of more than three other people, except for school.
He will appear again on December 1.
A 13-year old boy was also arrested on suspicion of theft of these poppy wreaths.
This theft is suspected to be motivated by sectarian hate.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the theft of five poppy wreaths from the Cenotaph in The Diamond during the early hours of today.
Officers responded to an alert at around 12.40am and a male suspect was seen dropping the wreaths and running off in the direction of the Bogside.
The wreaths were recovered and the enquiries are ongoing.
