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Three teenagers have been remanded in custody in connection with a brutal assault on a 16-year-old girl in Bangor at the weekend.

Members of the public were asked to clear the gallery of Downpatrick courthouse this morning when 18-year-old Cora Mary Linda Campbell, with an address at English Street in Downpatrick, and two younger teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged with causing GBH with intent on the girl in an attack at the town's seafront on Friday.

One of the teenagers, who is male, faced two additional charges of aiding and abetting GBH and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Before this morning's hearing, Judge Amanda Brady asked anyone unconnected to the case to clear the court because of its "high profile nature".

The attack, which Judge Brady said appeared "prolonged and vicious", was caught on camera and shared online over the weekend.

Seeking bail for Campbell, who had cuts and bruises to her face, a defence barrister said she had made "full admissions in interview" and would not abscond.

The court heard that Campbell admitted to having "issues" with the injured party and said "the red mist descended" when she saw her on Friday.

Objecting to bail, a police officer said the young victim had suffered severe injuries to her face and head in the attack and could not be fully assessed by doctors.

"Due to severe swelling, doctors have been unable to establish exactly what injuries she has sustained," she said.

Connecting the trio, who were wearing grey prison jumpers, with the charges, the police officer added the victim claimed to have been punched in the face and held down by four people who were known to her.

She said two females, who had been arrested and released on Saturday, were rearrested once video evidence of the alleged assault was made available to them.

"Police were aware the assault had been recorded and shared on Facebook and had been sent to the injured party's mother," she added.

"It showed a vicious assault and her being punched 30 times.

"Her head was submerged in a fountain of water a couple of times for a few seconds."

She said that the male defendant, who is 16, was recorded verbally encouraging the assault, before approaching the victim and pouring liquid on her head.

The police officer said the young woman had not yet been able to make a written statement due to the severity of her injuries.

She said there had been great public interest in the incident and a lot of information was being provided to police.

The male defendant did not request bail.

Objecting to bail for the two female defendants, the police officer said there were concerns about the defendants' safety due to "ongoing reports about threats from the public relating to the three who had been identified on social media."

Refusing bail, Judge Brady said she was concerned about the potential risk of reoffending.

The trio will reappear at Newtownwards Magistrate's Court on May 11.

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