Court told of burglary spree before stolen car driven dangerously on wrong side of Belfast Westlink
Three men were remanded into custody accused of going on a burglary spree before being stopped in a stolen car travelling the wrong way on a Belfast dual carriageway.
Ciaran McGuigan, 30, Malachy Goodman, 39, and Ciaran Tully, 31, were detained after the BMW X3 came to a halt on the Westlink following a pursuit on Saturday.
Police said the vehicle was nearly involved in multiple collisions with other motorists during the incident.
The defendants had allegedly carried out a series of creeper-style raids prior to their arrest, targeting homes in Belfast, Carryduff, Lisburn and Saintfield to steal car keys.
They appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court jointly charged with three counts of burglary, one attempted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, and possessing Class C drugs.
McGuigan, of Woodside Walk in Dunmurry, faces further charges of driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance, failing to stop for police, and failing to stop or remain at the scene of an accident.
He did not seek bail and was remanded in custody until December 5.
Applications mounted by Goodman, of Ballymurphy Parade in Belfast, and Tully, from Divismore Park in the city, were both opposed.
An investigating detective told the court the case involved “a spree of creeper burglaries” from Friday into Saturday.
He backed prosecution submissions that the stolen car was driven dangerously from the area of Roselawn Cemetery, overtaking and forcing other vehicles to brake to avoid head-on crashes.
“It almost caused multiple collisions, travelling a significant distance down the Westlink on the wrong lane and making dangerous manoeuvres,” a Crown lawyer said.
During interviews Goodman denied any involvement in the burglaries and insisted he was unaware the BMW had been stolen.
A defence barrister submitted: “He has six children and was hoping this was going to be a Christmas he could spend with them.”
Tully also claimed to know nothing about the break-ins.
He told police that he was collected in the BMW by two friends under the impression they were “going for a spin” in a courtesy car, the court heard.
According to his account he remained in the vehicle out of fear of being labelled a “tout” and suffering potential reprisals.
Defence lawyers argued that there is currently no DNA evidence connecting either Goodman or Tully to the burglaries.
But Judge Alan White refused bail to both accused due to the risk of further offending.
Describing Goodman’s application as “hopeless”, Mr White also expressed scepticism at Tully’s account.
He added: “Why people going to commit a series of burglaries would bring along somebody just for the ride is something the court may well inquire into at some point.”
Both defendants were also remanded into custody until next month.
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