Judge told youth was threatened

Dundalk Circuit Court has been told a youth before it on robbery charges had been forced to leave home in south Armagh because of a threat from a paramilitary. Mr Kevin Segrave, his counsel, said the threat had been investigated and found to be genuine.

The juvenile and three other schoolboys, two aged 16 and two 17, were charged in relation to the robbery of a shop at Hackballscross, Co Louth, on March 18th last.

Mr Segrave said his client had left south Armagh after the threat.

Judge Esmonde Smith remanded the youth and a 17 year old on continuing bail until October for probation reports. Both have previous convictions.

The two others were each sentenced to 12 months, suspended on their entering into bonds to be of good behaviour.