Four men and a juvenile, including 3 who are believed to be from County Longford, have been charged following a violent incident in Derry earlier this week.
The PSNI has confirmed that five males, including a 14-year-old boy, have appeared in court following the incident on a garage forecourt on the Buncrana Road in the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Videos shared online show a number of men brandishing weapons engaging in a violent incident following a multi-vehicle collision.
During the court hearing, a detective constable told Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare that an innocent member of the public sustained a fractured sternum when a car allegedly driven by one of the defendants crashed into her car during the melee.
The juvenile, who gave his address as Ballyarnett Park in Derry, but is from Longford, is charged with possessing and possessing with intent to cause grievous bodily harm a pitch fork. He's also charged with possessing a crossbow bolt, an axe, a baton and a jemmy bar as well as with committing an affray.
Dylan Peter Stokes, 23, from Co. Longford but with an address at Racecourse Road in Derry is charged with dangerous driving and with driving without a licence and without insurance.
Kevin Stokes, 28, also from Co. Longford but whose address was given at Ballyarnett Park in Derry, is charged with possessing saw blades, a crossbow, a pitch fork, an axe, a baton and a jemmy bar. He's also charged with affray and with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The other accused are facing charges including dangerous driving, affray; possession of an offensive weapon in a public place; and grievous bodily harm with intent.
A twenty-eight year old man who sustained serious head injuries in the incident is still being treated in hospital for those injuries. He too is a suspect in the case.
The detective constable said after the incident which involved two families, two caravans were set on fire at Ballyarnett Park.
Opposing bail the police witness said she believed the defendants would re-offend if released on bail and that she said there was also a fear that they would flee the jurisdiction before any pending trial.
Applying for bail lawyers for four of the five defendants said their clients in the process of fleeing Derry, following earlier discussions with the police about their safety, when they were effectively ambushed in the garage forecourt.
One lawyer said the Longford defendants "were fleeing Derry after very serious threats had been made against them. Their two caravans were later set on fire at the Ballyarnett Park site. They were ambushed. They had agreed a route out of Derry with the police but they changed direction without telling the police".
All five defendants were released on their own bail of £500, together with a cash surety of £1,000, and the case was adjourned until September 16.
