A 13-year-old boy has appeared before Ballymena magistrates' court to face arson charges following the firebombing of a Catholic primary school.
The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in custody following a presentation from legal representative for the new Public Prosecution Service.
The magistrate told the teenager he did not have the authority to allow bail, but permission was given for his mother to visit the accused in the court cells.
The boy, dressed in a Manchester United shirt and sports trousers, was told by the magistrate: "You should not be standing there, you should be at school today."
A defence solicitor said he would apply for High Court bail next week.
Two other suspects questioned by police in relation to incidents in Ballymena are both 15.
The chief constable said he was alarmed at the age of some young people involved in serious incidents during what has been a difficult marching season.
Speaking in Ballymena where a Policing Board meeting was held, Sir Hugh Orde said: "Much of the disorder on the small number of parades where disorder occurred . . . was being perpetrated by people of a very young age.
"In other words, what we have been seeing is a trend across a number of events where police officers or communities are attacked, where very young people are engaged in criminal activity.
"This, I think, makes it a problem which is far wider and far more complicated than a simple policing solution," he said.