An 18-year-old man has been remanded in custody after a police inspector was injured when a petrol bomb was thrown into a police Land Rover during rioting in Carrickfergus. Ryan Fowles, of Larne Road, Carrick, faces a charge of rioting following the incident on Tuesday evening.

At Belfast Magistrates Court, a police officer described how masked attackers threw masonry and paint bombs at a police vehicle in Carrick. Bins had been set on fire to block a road. When an inspector opened the vehicle door to clear the obstruction, a rioter threw a lit petrol bomb inside. The bomb ignited, causing burn injuries to the inspector. After the flames were extinguished, the inspector pursued one of the alleged attackers.

The court was told that Fowles ran across the Marine Highway and into the sea, allegedly discarding gloves and a face covering into the water. He was later retrieved from Belfast Lough by the Coastguard and his father. Having been arrested, he was released to hospital for treatment for a broken arm before voluntarily presenting himself to police the following day.

Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing that Fowles posed a risk of further offending and that his detention would send a deterrent message amid ongoing public disorder. Defence solicitor Hamill Clawson contended that his client could not be identified on CCTV footage from the scene and that interviewing officers had accepted he was not visible on the recordings. The court also heard that Fowles has mental health difficulties, a diagnosis of autism, and no previous criminal record.

Fowles stated that he had been observing the disturbance and ran into the sea after being struck by a baton. District Judge Anne Marshall refused bail, stating she was satisfied there was a risk of further offending, harm, and public disorder. Fowles was remanded in custody and the case is due to resume on 9 July.