REUTERS - A 17-year-old youth has been charged with the murder of a police officer in Northern Ireland earlier this month, police said on Monday.
 
A Republican splinter group, the Continuity IRA, said it shot dead officer Stephen Carroll on March 9.
 
"A 17-year-old youth has been charged with the murder of constable Stephen Carroll, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, belonging to a proscribed organisation namely the Continuity IRA and collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists," a police spokeswoman said.
 
The youth would appear in court on Tuesday, the spokeswoman said.