Travelled to Belfast to riot

A LURGAN man travelled to Belfast to take part in riots, a court has heard.

And a police officer described it as one of the most serious incidents of the Ardoyne riots on 12 July.

Pearce Toman, 25, Drumnamoe Avenue, Lurgan, is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, riotous assembly, possession of petrol bombs and throwing one of the devices.

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A police officer said Toman didn’t know anyone in the Ardoyne area.

He had travelled 20 miles to take part in the disturbances.

The police officer said the accused had gone out of his way to be in Ardoyne and wasn’t the only person from Lurgan to have been seen at the rioting.

He said Toman had been identified by two police officers and from a photograph.

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Toman’s lawyer said he denied that he was the man in the picture.

Police objected to bail on the grounds that Toman might re-offend and because of the seriousness of the charges.

Toman was remanded in custody until the August 20.