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Proceedings against third youth in alleged attempted rape case dropped

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The alleged assault sparked racially-motivated riots in Ballymena and other places in Northern Ireland

Police are no longer trying to extradite a third suspect in an alleged attempted rape case that sparked widespread racially-motivated riots across Northern Ireland.

Last week attempted rape charges against two Romanian teenagers were withdrawn.

The boys, aged 14 and 15, were accused of attempting to rape a schoolgirl in Ballymena, County Antrim on 7 June.

In October a court heard that a third suspect fled to Romania via Dublin airport the day after the alleged attack and police are were trying to extradite him back to Northern Ireland but any anticipated proceedings against the third suspect are to be discontinued, it is understood.

This suspect had not been charged to court.

In a previous court hearing, involving the boys aged 14 and 15, there were claims that the girl was dragged down an alleyway into a garage, but escaped when her would-be attackers were disturbed and ran off.

None of the accused can be identified because of their ages.

Following the alleged assault widespread racially-motivated riots took place in the town before spreading to other parts of Northern Ireland.