3 Belfast teens, 49-year-old woman face court following last week’s widespread Catholic riots

3 Belfast teenagers, woman in court over riots

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Three teenage boys and a 49-year-old woman have been arraigned in Belfast courts following last week’s widespread rioting in Irish Catholic districts.

The woman, Norma Crowder, denies knowledge of a loaded handgun and ammunition found at her home near the scene of the worst rioting in Ardoyne, north Belfast. Police discovered the gun under a deck and believe it was used to shoot at officers last week.

In Belfast’s juvenile court, two teenagers aged 16 and another aged 15 were formally charged with attacking officers with Molotov cocktails and damaging cars with golf clubs and balls.

All four received bail Thursday on condition they observe nighttime curfews and wear electronic tags.

More than 80 officers were wounded, none critically, during four nights of riots.