Two men from Co Down charged with the attempted murder of an English couple, who were attacked in their campervan within hours of arriving for a holiday in the Republic last Monday, are denying the charges, Newry Magistrate's Court was told yesterday.
The couple remain in hospital and the HSE said yesterday that they were in a stable condition.
Before the court were Patrick Joseph Mongan (21), Ardcarn Park, Newry, and Elias Boswell (20), Auburn Park, Bangor. They are accused of the attempted murder of James and Kath Fordyce on June 11th, 2007.
They are also charged with aggravated burglary and stealing, a charge which alleges that they had offensive weapons in their possession, namely a machete and a hatchet, when they broke into the campervan. It was parked close to the Carrickdale Hotel by the main Dublin to Belfast road and a few hundred metres south of the Border.
The two are accused of stealing rings, cash, a wallet and bank cards and of hijacking the van and setting it on fire in Co Armagh.
A detective told Magistrate Sarah Creanor that she believed she could connect the accused men to the alleged offences. She said that when the charges were put to them, neither made any reply. However, when asked by their solicitor if they were both "vehemently denying their involvement", she replied: "That's correct."
The men were remanded in custody to appear in court by video link on July 11th next.