A 17-year-old youth was remanded in custody today accused of driving a car stolen from an elderly priest following an assault.
The youth, who cannot be named, with an address in west Belfast was charged with driving a red Renault Clio which he knew was stolen from Father Aidan Denny (71).
A detective constable told Belfast Magistrates Court investigating officers she did not believe the youth was involved in the assault on the priest.
However, she said she believed the car was taken by the accused at the time of the attack.
Fr Denny was left with a broken nose after he was attacked by a man who asked him to hear his confession. He was also bitten by the man who knocked on the door of his parochial house in New Barnsley Green, west Belfast last Thursday night.
A man asked the priest to hear his confession and he was brought into the house.However, once inside, he struck the priest in the face and demanded his car keys.
The detective constable told the court today that the youth denied the charge of taking and driving the priest's car without his permission when questioned.
The youth was remanded in custody to a young offenders' centre to appear in the same court again via video-link next week.
PA