Arrest warrants have been issued for a couple from England who are accused of travelling to Northern Ireland to commit thefts.
The couple are alleged to have stolen £150 worth of football tops and made off without paying for a bill from the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown.
Bridget McDonagh, 36, and Simon McDonagh, 38, of Honeypot Lane in Darlington, did not appear as they were charged with theft and making off without paying at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The alleged theft refers to £150 worth of football tops from Lifestyle Sport on March 15, 2016.
They are also alleged to have obtained food to the value of £59.80 from the Seagoe Hotel before making off without paying on June 20 of this year.
A constable stated that she believed she could connect both defendants to the charges.
Defence barrister John McCann stated that the pair were not there as they had been involved in a car accident in England.
He told District Judge Bernie Kelly that the instructing solicitors had forwarded documents to the court from the pair’s doctor.
District Judge Kelly said: “This is a note regarding their condition to work. It reads they are not fit to work for three weeks. This has nothing to do with their attendance at court.
“I have a right mind to report this doctor to the GMC. This is not acceptable as well the solicitors should know.”
She added: “I have had a lot of people before me who have travelled from different parts of Northern Ireland to commit thefts but not from England.”
The district judge issued arrest warrants for both defendants.
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