Trio on elderly burglaries charge

Two women and a man have been remanded in custody after being charged with burglaries at the homes of two County Fermanagh pensioners.

Two of them, from County Galway, made no reply when charged, while the other, from Londonderry, said: "Not guilty."

A detective constable said he believed they were part of an organised gang preying on the elderly on both sides of the border, especially in remote areas.

Bail was refused for all three, who are members of the travelling community.

Charges

Christopher David McDonagh, 31, and Laura Finnerty, 27, both from Tuam, County Galway, and Christina Crumlish, 32, from Cornshell Fields in Derry, appeared in court in Enniskillen on Monday.

They are accused of stealing a bag from a house in Tullyhommon, near Pettigo and stealing a purse from a house on Rossfad Road, near Ballinamallard, on Saturday.

Resident Magistrate Harry Coll said the matter would be dealt with at a Crown Court because of the serious nature of the offences with which they are accused.

Bail was refused and they were remanded in custody for four weeks, to appear by videolink on 27 February.