A teenager accused of rioting was cleared today by jury of all charges against him.

It followed a two day trial in Belfast Crown Court before Judge Gordon Kerr QC.

Darren Kane from Foxes Glen in Dunmurry was accused of rioting and of inciting others to take part in a riot on June 26, 2012.

Trouble flared on the Donegall Road junction with the Westlink, during which police were attacked by a 40-strong mob.

The jury heard evidence on Wednesday from a PSNI ‘bronze commander’ in charge of the police operation that he gave the order to fire four plastic baton rounds at rioters as his officers came under sustained attack from petrol bombs, missiles, large lumps of concrete and fireworks.

It was alleged that 19-year-old Kane was captured on CCTV footage breaking up masonry which was used to attack police lines over a three-hour period.

He was also accused of encouraging others to hurl missiles at PSNI officers in riot gear.

Kane denied being involved in the riot and was found not guilty by a jury on both charges before the court.