Pair remanded over attack sparked by Noah Donohoe remarks

The youth is further charged with threatening to kill.

Each accused appeared separately by video-link due to concerns of violence.

A police officer told Omagh Magistrates Court the charges could be connected to the defendants.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, vanished from his south Belfast home on June 21 last year.

Following an extensive search operation, the teenager’s body was found in the storm drain in the north of the city, close to the M2 motorway, six days later.

The officer explained the victim presented himself to police covered in blood with wounds to his head, a laceration on his hand with bone showing, and swelling to his ankle and lip.

He was drinking with a friend, Wray, and the youth from 1am on the morning in question.

Aware that the youth had known Noah, the victim claimed that while recently in prison, he spoke to an inmate who may have been involved in stealing his laptop.

This “provoked an angry reaction” from the youth, who demanded details from the victim before repeatedly kicking him to the head.

The victim attempted to escape, but claims Wray kicked him to the head while the youth beat him with a chair leg. Both defendants allegedly jumped on his head, while the youth struck him with a chair leg and a guitar.

The incident occurred over several hours, when the attackers would leave, then return and assault him further.

Wray allegedly expressed fears the victim would go to police, after which the youth shouted: “I’m going to kill you. You are dying tonight.”

The victim again attempted to flee but was dragged back by Wray. He eventually managed to escape by jumping from a second-floor window.

Police arrested Wray and the youth in Strabane.

Meanwhile large amounts of blood were found at the scene, including splatter on the ceilings of two rooms. It appeared attempts had been made to clean up.

Objecting to bail, the officer voiced concerns of witness interference, and while the youth has no previous convictions, Wray has one, and is under investigation for other matters of alleged violence.

Urging bail to be granted, Wray’s defence stressed he has been accepted to study psychology at Liverpool University.

District Judge Bernie Kelly said that may now be impacted by the proceedings and rejecting his release ruled: “I don’t consider him a suitable candidate for bail at this stage.”

Turning to the youth, Judge Kelly remarked: “This is a child. There’s parental responsibility to ensure he’s in his bed overnight, not engaging in unsuitable activities.”

The defence said the youth resides with his mother to which Judge Kelly responded: “We’ve now established she has no control over him.”

"I have a mother whose teenage son did not come back overnight – not once did she ring 999 to report him missing nor get into a complete state that he hadn’t returned. I know very few mothers who wouldn’t be climbing the walls.”

It was suggested the Youth Justice Agency could assist, but Judge Kelly said: “I can’t farm him out to an organisation without parental responsibility. He lives with his mother but nobody went looking for him. I need someone who can tell him he’s not going out. Parents can do that, The Youth Justice Agency cannot.”

The defence contended the youth’s mother was “frantically looking for him” but police said no reports were made.

Judge Kelly agreed to adjourn the youth’s application noting: “I’m deeply concerned.”

Both accused will appear before Strabane Magistrates Court later this month.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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