Loyalist on attempted murder charge bailed

A prominent Orangeman accused of the attempted murder of two pedestrians knocked down by a car during a riot in Belfast “profoundly regrets” what happened, a court was told yesterday.

John Aughey, aged 61, was granted bail on strict conditions after appearing in court accused of trying to kill Phoebe Clawson and Róisín McGlone in the nationalist Ardoyne area, in the midst of disturbances on Monday night. He is due in court again in four weeks.

After the collision, Ms Clawson, 16, was trapped under Mr Aughey’s vehicle and police and residents had to lift and flip it off her. She is in a stable condition in hospital having suffered multiple broken bones. Ms McGlone’s injuries were not as serious.