A man accused of rioting and exposing himself to police in south Belfast was allegedly identified by his brand of trainers, a court heard on Thursday.
James Thompson was tracked on footage from a PSNI helicopter as he left the scene of the disorder and discarded clothing late on Tuesday night, it was claimed.
The 38-year-old denies any involvement in the unrest at Glenmachan Street near the Broadway Roundabout, insisting instead that he tried to calm the situation.
Thompson, of Carnreagh Bend in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, faces charges of riot, possessing an offensive weapon in public, and indecent behaviour.
He was granted bail but barred from returning to the area where trouble flared on two successive nights earlier this week.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard police came under sustained attack from eight to ten rioters while a larger crowd of around 100 onlookers were in the area shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
PSNI Land Rovers were pelted with masonry, paint and petrol bombs as an evidence gathering unit recorded the incident.
An investigating officer claimed footage obtained by an air support crew identified Thompson leaving the scene and discarding gloves, a jumper and something over his head as he walked along nearby Lecale Street. He was detained a short time later on Monarch Parade.
The constable alleged that an evidence-gathering truck was able to zoom in and identify him by paint splatters on his trousers and a specifically-marked brand of shoes.
“At one point the footage shows the defendant removing a piece of masonry from another person’s hand and throwing it,” she stated.
Thompson told police he had gone to Lecale Street to return a drill and visit relatives living in the area.
“He stated that he went down to the area of the disorder to get the youths to stop, but denied being involved or throwing masonry at police in the area,” the officer confirmed.
But she contended: “During the footage he has taken his trousers down on at least three occasions, baring his bottom to the cameras. He denies doing that.”
A defence solicitor put to her that the police helicopter only captured infra-red footage which did not identify any alleged participants.
The constable accepted: “At no point do you see the defendant’s face, which is why I was highlighting details of the clothing.”
According to the lawyer, however, the Nike Air Max trainers attributed to Thompson are worn by “every Tom, Dick and Harry in Belfast”.
Disputing any identification of Thompson, he argued that the defendant went down to the rioting youths in an attempt to get them to disperse amid concerns for his family.
“Nowhere in this footage, apart from his arrest, is he actually shown,” the solicitor added.
Granting bail in what he described as a “very finely balanced application”, Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne held there is prima facie evidence that Thompson was involved in serious public disorder.
“I don’t believe he’s in a position to negotiate with rioting youths, but nor do I consider that he is somebody who has become instrumentally involved in this, organising this sort of behaviour.,” Mr Browne said.
Thompson was ordered to abide by a night-time curfew, alcohol ban and excluded from the area where trouble flared.
The judge added: “He’s got bail by the skin of his teeth.”
