Four schoolboys have appeared in court accused of offences arising from a fire at a derelict former nightclub in Limavady.
Appearing separately at Coleraine Youth Court all four defendants, three 12-year-olds and one 14-year-old who cannot be named, were jointly charged with burglary of the property on Catherine Street with intent to cause unlawful damage.
Two of the 12-year-olds were also charged with arson and one of those boys was further charged with an offence of burglary with intent to steal.
The charges arise after a fire broke out at a derelict former nightclub on Catherine Street just after 17:40 on May 30.
At its height, more than 50 firefighters, eight appliances, one aerial appliance, one command support unit and one hazardous material vehicle all attended the scene.
In court on Thursday, the schoolboys confirmed they understood the charges.
A prosecuting lawyer told District Judge Peter King the “full file” was due to be received by the PPS by the end of July so she was asked for the case to be put back until some date after that.
Defence lawyers for the four did not raise any objections so freeing each of the boys on bail, Judge King adjourned the case to August 8 “for a prosecution update.”
He warned the boys and their relatives “it’s probably going to be Halloween time before there’s substantial movement given how serious the allegations are”.