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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Noose tied on hijacked pensioner | Noose tied on hijacked pensioner |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thieves suspected of a series of car hijackings on both sides of the border forced a pensioner to drive his car with a rope around his neck. | Thieves suspected of a series of car hijackings on both sides of the border forced a pensioner to drive his car with a rope around his neck. |
| Three men hijacked his vehicle after the stolen car they were in collided with a vehicle travelling along the main Newtownhamilton to Belleek road. | Three men hijacked his vehicle after the stolen car they were in collided with a vehicle travelling along the main Newtownhamilton to Belleek road. |
| They then forced the man, who is in his 60s, to drive into County Louth. | They then forced the man, who is in his 60s, to drive into County Louth. |
| Police suspect the same men had earlier stolen a silver Vauxhall Astra from a caravan site at Tollymore Forest Park. | Police suspect the same men had earlier stolen a silver Vauxhall Astra from a caravan site at Tollymore Forest Park. |
| Irish police said they believed the incidents on both sides of the border are connected. | Irish police said they believed the incidents on both sides of the border are connected. |
| The series of incidents began at about 0400 BST on Thursday, when a car which had been set alight on the Trassey Road in Newcastle was discovered. | The series of incidents began at about 0400 BST on Thursday, when a car which had been set alight on the Trassey Road in Newcastle was discovered. |
| A short time later, a man staying in his caravan at nearby Tollymore Forest Park was assaulted by a man who stole the keys to his silver Astra. | A short time later, a man staying in his caravan at nearby Tollymore Forest Park was assaulted by a man who stole the keys to his silver Astra. |
| Later on at about 1230 BST, a woman was driving on the main Newtownhamilton to Beleek road when her vehicle, with a second adult and three children aboard, was in collision with a silver Astra. | |
| A criminal gang operating in south Down and County Armagh were rampaging around the area interfering with cars, stealing cars and at one stage kidnapping a gentleman Danny KennedyUUP | A criminal gang operating in south Down and County Armagh were rampaging around the area interfering with cars, stealing cars and at one stage kidnapping a gentleman Danny KennedyUUP |
| The three occupants got out and unsuccessfully tried to stop a car before hi-jacking a woman's people carrier. | The three occupants got out and unsuccessfully tried to stop a car before hi-jacking a woman's people carrier. |
| A lorry driver who saw what was happening tried to block the road, forcing the thieves into a gully. | A lorry driver who saw what was happening tried to block the road, forcing the thieves into a gully. |
| The men then hijacked a pensioner's car, put a rope around his neck and made him drive to Daw's Corner in Dundalk. | |
| The man, who was in his late 60s, was left in the vehicle when the hijackers reached Dundalk. | |
| PSNI roadblock | PSNI roadblock |
| Police in the Republic of Ireland are investigating an incident where an 81-year-old woman was injured when she was dragged from her car by a gang of youths in Dundalk, County Louth. | Police in the Republic of Ireland are investigating an incident where an 81-year-old woman was injured when she was dragged from her car by a gang of youths in Dundalk, County Louth. |
| The woman had stopped her car when she saw the gang crash another car they had already hijacked. | The woman had stopped her car when she saw the gang crash another car they had already hijacked. |
| She suffered a serious leg injury after being dragged from her car, said Irish state broadcaster RTE. | She suffered a serious leg injury after being dragged from her car, said Irish state broadcaster RTE. |
| It said the Garda Air Support Unit had been involved in the search for the gang, which returned across the border before turning away from a PSNI roadblock near Newry, County Down. | It said the Garda Air Support Unit had been involved in the search for the gang, which returned across the border before turning away from a PSNI roadblock near Newry, County Down. |
| They then struck again when they stopped another female driver on the Old Warrenpoint Road, pulled her from her car and assaulted her before driving off again. | They then struck again when they stopped another female driver on the Old Warrenpoint Road, pulled her from her car and assaulted her before driving off again. |
| The gang are thought to be aged in their late teens or early 20s and may have southern Irish accents. | The gang are thought to be aged in their late teens or early 20s and may have southern Irish accents. |
| Newry and Mourne Sinn Fein councillor Jimmy McCreesh said he visited the homes of some of those caught up in the incidents. | Newry and Mourne Sinn Fein councillor Jimmy McCreesh said he visited the homes of some of those caught up in the incidents. |
| He said he hoped those traumatised in "these savage incidents" make full recoveries. | He said he hoped those traumatised in "these savage incidents" make full recoveries. |
| Ulster Unionist Newry and Mourne assembly member Danny Kennedy said the incident raised concerns and said it was "highwaymen operating in broad daylight". | Ulster Unionist Newry and Mourne assembly member Danny Kennedy said the incident raised concerns and said it was "highwaymen operating in broad daylight". |
| "A criminal gang operating in south Down and County Armagh were rampaging around the area interfering with cars, stealing cars and at one stage kidnapping a gentleman," he said. | "A criminal gang operating in south Down and County Armagh were rampaging around the area interfering with cars, stealing cars and at one stage kidnapping a gentleman," he said. |
| "He had the traumatic experience of having a rope placed around his neck and being brought across the border." | "He had the traumatic experience of having a rope placed around his neck and being brought across the border." |