Three men arrested in Tuesday's anti-crime swoops in Belfast appeared in court yesterday on charges of armed robbery.
In the dock at the Magistrates Court were Belfast men Mr Patrick Cunningham (22), of Cherry Park, Mr Harry Porter (30), St Georges Gardens, and Mr Darren Clarke (20), from Henderson Avenue.
Mr Cunningham was charged with robbing Securicor employees of a total of £50,000 in three armed hold-ups at Moira, Donaghadee and Newtownabbey between August and October last year.
Mr Porter was charged with using a shotgun and handgun in a £280 robbery at the King's Head pub at Balmoral, South Belfast, in September, 2000.
Mr Clarke was charged with robbery of £140 and cigarettes from a shop on the Lisburn Road last April and using a wheelbrace to commit the offence.
All three were remanded in custody for a month and their solicitors said bail applications would be made in the High Court.