Cocaine addict crashed into police vehicles with stolen car during rampage-style burglary, court hears – Irish News

A cocaine addict allegedly crashed two police vehicles with a stolen car during a creeper-style burglary in north Belfast, the court heard today.

Pearce O’Neill is also accused of trying to break into two other homes as part of the same 48-hour crime spree.

The 24-year-old defendant was detained on 16 charges linked to weekend incidents that left several PSNI officers injured.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard O’Neill allegedly took the keys to a Toyota Yaris from a house in Brucevale Park in the early hours of Saturday.

Police tracked the stolen car across the city to the Monagh Ring Road and Norglen Parade areas before it was stopped.

An investigating detective said: “It collided with two separate police vehicles, causing injuries to the drivers.”

O’Neill is also accused of targeting two other homes on Brucevale Court the same night.

The defendant, believed to be from nearby Thorndale Avenue but whose current address is Carlisle Road in Derry, faces burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and two counts of attempted theft.

He is also charged with dangerous driving, interfering with vehicles, failing to give an example of improper driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, handling stolen goods and stealing £120 cash from a vehicle.

He opposed O’Neill’s bail over claims he could interfere with witnesses because he lives close to the scene of the crime.

Publicizing the risk, the detective added: “He is believed to be under the influence of drugs and was unable to provide a sample when requested.”

Defense lawyer Owen Beattie described O’Neill as an extremely vulnerable person who had previously been in a coma due to a “catastrophic incident” two years ago.

“This is someone with a cocaine addiction, it’s something he’s been outspoken about, and that may be the source of a lot of the (alleged) crimes in the case,” the lawyer said.

Mr Beattie also claimed CCTV evidence on the burglary and theft charges was “far from conclusive”.

But denying bail, District Judge Steven Keown said: “The vulnerability of homeowners and vehicle owners, and indeed police officers attempting to intervene in difficult situations, is a priority of the court.

“Unfortunately, in my opinion, it is a hopeless practice.”

O’Neill was detained until 2 December.