Man in court following cross-border crime spree

A 23-year-old man was remanded in custody today when he appeared in court on a catalogue of charges related to a cross-border crime spree on his birthday last month.

John Paul Collins, whose address was given as Salisbury Court in Slough, faced 16 charges when he appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court in the North.

All the charges relate to an alleged day-long catalogue of crime on September 14 which started in Co Down, spread to South Armagh and finished off at Dundalk in the Republic.

He faced three charges of hijacking cars from their owners and two of attempting to hijack cars – one in the Republic.

He was also charged with stealing two cars, one in Co Down and the other in the Republic.

He was further charged with the assault and false imprisonment of Michael Walsh as well as threatening to kill Mr Walsh and common assault on Mr Walsh.

He was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Theresa O’Hagan.

Collins was also accused of stealing alcohol valued at £55.60 (€82.89) from an off-licence as well as driving without a licence or insurance.

He appeared in court in Co Armagh after being arrested in England at the weekend and flown back to the North.

A police constable told the court that when charged Collins made no reply.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Newry Magistrates’ Court in Co Down via video-link on November 8.

A 31-year-old man has already appeared in court on nine charges related to the same alleged day-long catalogue of crime.

On September 14 a car was stolen from the occupant of a caravan at a forest park in Newcastle, Co Down, before a series of vehicles were hijacked in quick succession in South Armagh.

A young mother fought with assailants when they tried to drive off in her vehicle with her toddler still in the back.

A man in his 60s was assaulted when his vehicle was hijacked in South Armagh, he had a noose tied around his neck before being forced by a gang of men to drive across the border to Dundalk, police said at the time.

The charges involving vehicles in the Republic are believed to include an incident in which an 81-year-old woman suffered a leg injury when she was dragged from her car by a gang of youths who made off in the vehicle.