Two men facing charges in connection to an incident at Portballintrae Boat Club are to be prosecuted for assault “aggravated by hostility,” a court has heard.
Coleraine Magistrates Court also heard that the case against Derek Leonard McKendry (62) and 63-year-old Stephen Cross will remain in the petty sessions.
McKendry, from Strawbridge Park in Portballintrae had been accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using disorderly behaviour in Portballintrae Boat Club on June 3.
On Monday, a prosecuting lawyer said the PPS had decided the case against McKendry will proceed on common assault, aggravated by hate and religion and disorderly behaviour, allegedly aggravated by hostility.
In relation to Cross, from the Castlecat Road in Bushmills, the PPS lawyer said the charges remained as two counts of common assault, theft of a mobile phone and using disorderly behaviour, all said to be aggravated “by reason of hostility”.
Although none of the alleged facts surrounding the charges have been opened in court, it was reported at the time the pair were arrested after a boat displaying an Irish tricolour was torched in what police said was a sectarian attack.
The incident, in which one person was hospitalised for injuries, saw a fight break out after the boat docked at Portballintrae pier.
District Judge Peter King adjourned the case to January 13.