Disorder broke out in Ballymena on Monday night with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) appealing for calm.
On Tuesday, local MP Jim Allister said the violence came amid rising local tensions over immigration.
The 14-year-olds appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where they denied charges of oral rape.
They appeared by video link from Woodlands Juvenile Centre wearing grey tracksuits and were remanded in custody until 2 July.
Protest over alleged attack
Men, women and children marched along Larne Street and Queen Street from the town centre.
Firefighters had to douse blazes after petrol bombs were hurled by masked youths following a protest in the Co Antrim town (Photo: Pacemaker Belfast)Police Land Rovers cordoned off streets while officers with plastic shields stood guard at barricades.
A warning alert from the PSNI urging the public to disperse was ignored as the violence escalated.
Homes set alight
Two houses had their windows smashed before being set on fire, with fire rescue teams evacuating nearby properties.
Footage from the Clonavon Terrace area showed protesters burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street.
A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters followed by officers on foot.
ONGOING – #ballymena – Police have came under attack with Petrol Bombs #NorthernIreland pic.twitter.com/dI7PQLkEmq
— NI Emergency Response Vids (@NiResponsevids) June 9, 2025The Belfast Telegraph has reported that at least four homes were set on fire during the disturbances.
TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister said Ballymena had seen rising concerns about the “sheer scale of migration into the town”, adding that would have been a factor in the “wholly peaceful” protest.
“There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years.
He added: “Those who came onto the street last night in the main had a perfectly legitimate purpose and cause of being there.”
Police call for calm
Mr Allister said he had spoken to the family of the girl who was the victim of the alleged sexual assault and they did not want to see violent scenes.
“My message is the violence should stop. The concerns are there, I am certainly aware of them, I hear them and there needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course.”
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