13-year-olds facing rape charges

The woman was attacked in Woodvale Park

Two 13-year-old boys were remanded in custody at a Belfast court in connection with the rape of a woman.

One of the boys is charged with rape, attempted rape and grievous bodily harm in a city park on Monday 4 December.

The other is charged with attempted rape, aiding and abetting rape, grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill.

Both accused, who cannot be identified, are charged with robbing their alleged victim of £40 with a kitchen knife.

Belfast youth court was told on Monday that when charged with rape, the accused boy made no reply.

The boy charged with attempted rape said: "I didn't rape nobody."

A police officer told the court that he had arrested both defendants at separate police stations on Saturday.

He said he believed he could connect them both with the charges.

The magistrate made an order banning publication of any information that might identify the victim or the accused.

The boys were remanded in custody to appear again on 3 January.

The woman, in her late teens, was attacked as she walked through Woodvale Park in the Shankill area on the evening of Monday 4 December.