Three Men Face Charges in Alleged Attempted Kidnapping Case

On Saturday, three men appeared in court, accused of attempting to kidnap a woman in Kilrea, County Londonderry. The court was informed that the 35-year-old woman’s vehicle was rammed and “boxed in” before she was assaulted at a garage forecourt. Appearing via videolink at Ballymena Magistrates Court, Richard Heaney, 38, and brothers Owen and Richard Montgomery, both 27, confirmed their awareness of the charges against them. All three individuals are charged with the attempted kidnapping of a woman on November 27, in addition to other charges stemming from the same incident. Mr Heaney, from Ardbann Avenue in Kilrea, faces further charges including the robbery of the woman’s coat, phone, and bank card; possessing a screwdriver with intent to commit wounding; resisting police; dangerous driving; damaging the woman’s car; and possessing class C pregabalin. Owen Montgomery, of Garvagh Road in Kilrea, is also charged with damaging the woman’s car, tampering with a vehicle, assault, and possessing cannabis and meth. Ryan Montgomery, from Coleraine Street in Kilrea, faces additional charges of threatening to kill the woman and two counts of assaulting her. Heaney did not apply for bail. A bail application for the Montgomery brothers was refused. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 23. Summarising the case, Judge Magill stated that the woman contacted police at 16:30 GMT on Wednesday, reporting “that she and her partner were being chased in a car and that it had been rammed”. The judge noted that “She could be heard screaming and she said that efforts were being made by multiple cars to box them in”. He further mentioned that other vehicles were rammed and three police officers sustained injuries. The incident subsequently moved to a filling station on Maghera Street, where the woman “was attacked by numerous people, including the defendants”. Judge Magill indicated that, according to police, CCTV footage of the incident exists, showing the defendants allegedly “surround the car”. The woman sought refuge inside the filling station, but the Montgomery brothers were observed “loitering at the front door waiting for her”. The judge stated that the woman was allegedly “set upon by both” the Montgomery brothers and “dragged by the coat along the ground” before they “[pinned] her to the car”. Two nearby cars were being driven by Mr Heaney and a fourth man, Leon McGlinchey, 31, and all four have been arrested. Mr McGlinchey, from Moyola Avenue in Castledawson, appeared in court on Friday, charged with 11 offences. These include driving while unfit, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, three charges of failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving with neither insurance nor a licence, theft of a coat and phone, criminal damage, and obstructing police. He was also denied bail and remanded into custody until December 23. During their police interviews, the Montgomery brothers admitted their presence but denied any assault, asserting that the alleged victim was “a compulsive liar constantly making allegations” against them. Gavin Cairns, the defence counsel for the brothers, suggested that the woman was herself “known to the court” and that the case involved “an overcharging”. The barrister contended that bail conditions could be established to address police concerns, stating that the case “will take months and months and months” to resolve and “may not cross the custody threshold”. Judge Magill concurred that the brothers “have limited records” but underscored that both individuals had violated bail conditions. The judge remarked, “Clearly there is something going on here between these people but there is CCTV footage of an attack on a woman in daylight, in a public place where she is dragged along the ground among other things”. He concluded, “This is a very serious incident, it’s very worrying and I cannot be satisfied that if this pair were released there would not be any further offences in relation to this woman and her partner so therefore, not only is there a risk of further offences but a concern about interference with witnesses son bail is refused”. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.