Teenager remanded on rape charge

A 16-year-old youth has been remanded in custody charged with the double rape of a 15-year-old girl in west Belfast.

She was attacked along with three boys in the Blacks Road area on 6 August.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 12 charges including assault, armed robbery, false imprisonment and grievous bodily harm.

He denies the charges. Defence said he told police he had not used the girl's phone to call or text her mother two hours after the attack took place.

The 16-year-old spoke only to confirm his name during proceedings at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A detective sergeant told the court that when the charges were put to him, the youth replied: "Not guilty".

He said he believed he could connect him with all the offences.

A defence solicitor said his client would be "strenuously denying any wrongdoing" and had done so continuously while in police custody.

The solicitor asked the detective to confirm that the 16-year-old and his family had arranged to attend Newry police station voluntarily.

The youth was remanded in custody and is due to re-appear before the court by video link before 30 August.

Another 16-year-old has already been charged with aiding and abetting rape.