Two men accused of an aggravated burglary on a Tandragee pensioner last Friday (November 5) have been denied bail.
David Braniff, 27, of Moyraverty Centre and Martin Neil Ward, 45, of Moyraverty Court – both in Craigavon – appeared before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Monday, following a burglary on the home of a 74-year-old man, in which his four-year-old granddaughter was in attendance, in the Ashtree Hill area of Tandragee.
The court heard how the pair, who both have an extensive criminal record, were charged with aggravated burglary and dangerous driving.
Braniff, who the court heard had 40 previous convictions, was also charged with driving when unfit through drink/drugs while Ward was charged with driving with excess alcohol.
Both appeared via videolink from Lurgan custody suite where Detective Constable Perry connected the pair to the charges.
Both defendants applied for bail, which was contested, largely on their extensive criminal records.
It was outlined that Ward himself had 122 previous convictions and was arrested twice in the past six months; once for theft and the other for domestic abuse.
Defence solicitor for Ward, Chris Logue, argued that his client has only had three bench warrants issued for his arrest in those 122 convictions which, he stated, was a “pretty good ratio”.
District Judge Eamon King denied bail for the pair and adjourned the case until November 30 where the accused will appear in Armagh via videolink.
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