A Donegal gang is suspected of carrying out more than 40 organised shoplifting raids on stores in border areas of Northern Ireland, including several in Fermanagh in the last three months, the High Court heard.
Police are investigating a family for potential involvement in targeting alcohol retailers from Lisnaskea to Derry, stealing up to £10,000 worth of stock.
Details emerged as bail was refused to an 18-year-old man charged with four other thefts in parts of Fermanagh and Tyrone on July 28.
Prosecutors claimed Terry Ward was arrested trying to get across the border at Belcoo with three other men who managed to escape into the Republic of Ireland.
Ward, a father-of-two from Station Road in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, is separately accused of dangerous driving over an allegedly staged motoring accident.
Trolleys were loaded up with bottles of vodka and whisky by men who targeted supermarkets in last week’s raids, the court heard.
Robin Steer, prosecuting, disclosed that a further 41 thefts stretching back to May are being probed.
Although Ward is not charged with any of those incidents, Mr Steer said police believe they were carried out by one gang based in Ballyshannon.
Members of a family are suspected of targeting towns near the border, including Belcoo, Castlederg, Enniskillen and Omagh.
“The total value in relation to all these offences is about £8,000 to £10,000,” the barrister disclosed.
“Police are still investigating these matters, (which involve) organised shoplifting.”
Ward was involved and claimed his faulty steering wheel had locked to the right, the court heard.
But according to the prosecution, checks revealed his car drove in a straight line for 80 yards before colliding with the other vehicle.
At hospital there was a refusal to leave until paperwork was provided confirming whiplash injuries, Lord Justice Gillen was told.
Mr Steer added: “Police believe it was a staged accident, with the intention of making a false claim.”
Ward’s lawyer stressed he has not been arrested or charged with any involvement in the 41 other shoplifting incidents under investigation.
Denying bail, however, the judge said: “If the Crown case is right, he’s part of an organised group of men involved in quite outrageous behaviour.”
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Posted: 8:22 pm August 13, 2016