Police officer charged after teenager kicked in head in Cookstown incident

A PSNI officer is to be prosecuted for assault after a 16-year-old boy was filmed being kicked in the head during an incident in Cookstown in December 2024.

Footage shared on social media at the time appeared to show teenager Shea Somerville being kicked in the head while lying restrained on the ground during an arrest.

Mr Somerville was detained alongside another man, who was not arrested, according to reports at the time.

Footage of the incident appeared to show two PSNI officers kneeling over the teenager as he was restrained on the ground. One officer then rose to his feet and appears to swing his right leg towards Mr Somerville, who was subsequently seen clutching the left side of his head.

Mr Somerville’s solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, told the Irish News: “The events of that night were shocking.

“The video that went viral has a central part in the prosecution case.

“We will continue to monitor the case until its conclusion.”