Teenage Girl Held At Gunpoint In Co Armagh

A masked gang held a 17-year-old girl at gunpoint at a house in Markethill, Co Armagh.

The incident happened at a property in the Seagahan Road area on Tuesday, 11 October.

Four men pointed a suspected gun at the girl through the kitchen window and ordered her to open the back door.

The teenager, who was in the house on her own at the time, refused to open the door. The gang proceeded to smash the glass panel and entered the house.

They demanded that she hand over a set of car keys and they took a spare set. They also stole her mobile phone and made off in a white Ford Fiesta.

The car was discovered in the Republic of Ireland later on Tuesday.

Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

DUP MLA William Irwin said: "It is totally shocking that a girl in the house was put through a horrific ordeal by the gang who were armed with a hand gun and threatened her in order to get the keys to the vehicle and they then fled the scene in the car. I understand the girl saw the attackers coming to the house and quickly locked the door, however the gang broke through the door. My thoughts are with the individual at this time as she gets over this awful ordeal it has been such a massive shock for her.

"I am aware that both the PSNI and the Garda are co-operating in an ongoing operation on both sides of the border to apprehend those responsible and hopefully those behind this attack can be brought before the courts. The issue of criminal gangs carrying out these types of sprees and disappearing back over the border is a huge concern and it is vital that Police on both sides of the border do everything possible to robustly stamp out this serious criminal activity."

(CD/JP)