Three Arrested Following Cross Border Pursuit

A taxi driver, held at gunpoint, was forced to drive two armed men across the border during a garda pursuit on Monday night.

The men, aged 19 and 39, allegedly threatened gardaí with what is believed to have been a firearm before forcing a taxi driver to aid their escape.

Gardaí were reportedly originally attempting to arrest the men following a search in on a home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, during which a firearm was recovered from a house at Ardnalorgan.

The car was pursued by gardaí until it crossed the border at Keady, Co Armagh.

Both men were subsequently arrested by the PSNI and are being held in Armagh.

A 38-year-old woman was arrested following the initial search operation and is being held at Castleblayney Garda Station.

Meanwhile, a man and woman were assaulted yesterday during an armed robbery in Co Down.

The victims, aged in their 60s, were left badly shaken after being confronted by three masked men brandishing a shotgun at their home in Saintfield shortly before 2pm.

Their injuries were not believed to be serious, and the assailants escaped in a car with a sum of cash.

Detectives have appealed for anybody with information to contact them but warned the public not to approach the suspects themselves.

(DW/JM)