Raft of charges | 

Two men to stand trial after allegedly robbing off-licence and hijacking Tesco van

Ciaran Barker (40) and Caoimhin Corr (24) have been ordered to stand trial

Today at 13:35

Two Co. Antrim men were today ordered to stand trial accused of hijacking a Tesco delivery van after they allegedly stole alcohol from an off licence.

Standing side by side in the dock of Newtownards Magistrates Court, 40-year-old Ciaran Barker and Caoimhin Corr (24) confirmed they understood the respective charges against them, all alleged to have been committed on 5 August last year.

Barker, from the Whitewell Road in Newtownabbey and Corr, from Norglen Parade in West Belfast, are jointly accused on 11 charges including hijacking a Tesco van, two counts of dangerous driving, three counts of aggravated vehicle theft causing damage, driving while banned and theft of £80 of alcohol from wine mark.

Barker faces three further charges including stealing £10 of chocolate bars from the Taxol station on Francis Street in Ards, resisting police and assaulting police.

When the pair were initially charged just over a year ago, the court heard how the catalogue of offences began at a wine mark off-licence in Millisle when Barker took £80 of alcohol to the counter and with Corr holding open the door, the pair walked out without paying and got into a car driven by a third male.

A detective claimed toffences then moved to Ards where a female member of staff at the Maxol garage spotted the defendants allegedly tampering with a motorcycle and Corr offered her a bar of chocolate.

However when she checked CCTV from the shop that day, she realised the pair had been in earlier and the chocolate treat being offered had actually been stolen.

A short distance away on George’s Street, a Tesco delivery van driver was sitting with his arm out of the window when Barker grabbed his arm and told him to “give him the keys.”

When Barker nodded towards the passenger side, the driver looked up to find Corr climbing into the cab so fearing what might happen he got out, Barker got in and the van sped off through the busy town centre.

The officer claimed the van was spotted driving on the wrong side of the road, going through red lights and narrowly missing a pedestrian who was pushing a buggy before it left the town heading for Dundonald where it collided with other cars and went through more red lights.

At some stage, said the cop, Corr and Barker swapped driving duties because by the time officers stopped the hijacked van on the Sydenham-by-pass using a stinger device to blow the tyres out, it was Corr who got out of the drivers seat.

In court today, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a Prima facie case against the alleged hijackers which was conceded by defence counsel Conor Holmes.

Both Corr and Barker were told they had the right to comment on the charges against them and to call evidence to court on their own behalves but they declined to say anything.

Freeing each of them on continuing bail, District Judge Mark Hamill returned the case to Downpatrick Crown Court for trial but he did not set a date for their arraignment.