A 31-year-old man was remanded in custody today when he appeared in court on a catalogue of charges related to a hijacking spree across Northern Ireland last week.
Christopher Connors, of Downs Road, Newcastle, Co Down, faced a total of nine charges when he appeared at Newry Magistrates' Court.
He was accused of hijacking a Volkswagen Sharan, a Renault Laguna and Seat Leon from their owners and attempting to hijack a Volkswagen Polo.
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 further charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Theresa O'Hagan.
He was further charged with robbery involving a gold chain and a Vauxhall Astra.
A PSNI constable told the court that when he put the charges to the accused he replied "No comment" to the first and made no reply to the other eight, but he said he believed he could connect him with the offences.
In reply to questions from a defence solicitor, the officer agreed that Mr Connors had volunteered to take part in an identity parade and that none of four witnesses had picked him out.
He also said he was awaiting the results of forensic examinations. The accused was remanded in custody to appear at the same court by video-link on October 18 th.
His solicitor said he would be making a bail application in the High Court on his client's behalf.
Last Thursday, during a day-long crime spree, a Vauxhall Astra was stolen from the occupant of a caravan in a forest park in Newcastle before a series of vehicles were hijacked in quick succession in South Armagh.
A man in his 60s was assaulted when he had his Renault Laguna hijacked in South Armagh and, said police at the time, had a noose tied around his neck before being forced by a gang of men to drive across the border to Dundalk.
A young mother also fought with assailants when they tried to drive off in her Volkswagen with her toddler still in the back.
PA