Officers from the PSNI stand with riot shields during a night of disorder in Ballymena, Co Antrim, last June. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA WireTwo Romanian teenagers accused of attempting to rape a schoolgirl in Ballymena, Co Antrim, are to have the charges against them withdrawn, a judge ordered on Friday. At Belfast Youth Court on Friday, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) was granted permission to end criminal proceedings against the defendants, based on “significant evidential developments”. Both teenagers will now be released from the juvenile detention centre where they have been held for more than five months. The pair were jointly charged with the attempted rape of the girl on June 7th this year.

Source: The Irish Times November 28, 2025 16:54 UTC