Stolen car smash in north Belfast leaves children in hospital

A BELFAST man has been remanded in custody over a knife point hijacking and car crash which left two children in hospital this week.

Patrick John Paul Harmon has also been charged with a number of robberies, causing grievous bodily harm and possessing a knife with intent.

The 28-year-old, from Cliftonpark Avenue, was remanded in custody.

His co-accused, Pearse Forgione, 18, from Manor Close in Belfast, is charged with being in a stolen car with him.

The crash happened at Ballysillan Park, north Belfast at about 20:30 GMT on Monday.

The children, aged four and ten, were treated in hospital for their injuries.

The charges relate to a spate incidents in different parts of Belfast over the course of an hour.

Firstly, two suspects one carrying a knife, approached two women in the Station Street area of east Belfast shortly before 7.30pm on Monday night.

They demanded the women hand over the keys to their car and the men made off in the vehicle.

Shortly before 8pm an employee was stabbed when a man threatened staff at a shop on the Ligoniel Road.

The 43-year-old victim was treated in hospital for a stab wound to his shoulder, which is not believed to be life-threatening. The would-be robber made off empty handed.

Around 15 minutes later a man armed with a knife stole cash from a shop in the Main Street area of Glenavy.

Just after 8.30pm two vehicles crashed in the Ballysillan Park area. Two children, aged four and ten were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries, which are also not thought to be life-threatening