A FORMER rising star of Armagh GAA yesterday pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbing a taxi driver.
Robert Tasker (26) also denied charges of making threats to kill and common assault.
Dressed in a blue jacket and white open neck shirt, Mr Tasker appeared before Newry Crown Court yesterday alongside Antion Eugene James McCooey (24), who also pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
A prominent GAA footballer, Mr Tasker was part of the Armagh side which won an All Ireland minor football title in 2009 and was seen as the star of the team at the time.
He was regarded as one of the county's rising stars and until recently was a regular member of the Armagh senior team.
The two men, both of separate addresses in St Patrick's Park, Cullyhanna, were remanded on continuing bail with a date set for trial next April.
The charges relate to the alleged kidnap and robbery of Dundalk taxi driver, Paul Kelly, at knifepoint in November 2016.
A previous court appearance heard that the two defendants ordered a taxi from a fast food takeaway in Dundalk to their homes in Cullyhanna.
It is alleged that during the journey, the pair produced a screwdriver and a Stanley knife before making threats towards Mr Kelly. It was previously also reported that they made stabbing motions towards the driver.
The co-accused are also alleged to have robbed him of €120.
The court had heard that the taxi man begged for his life before another car arrived on the scene, allowing him to escape.
During their appearance in court in Newry yesterday, the first charge that was put to the two defendants was that they "unlawfully and by force or fraud took or carried away Paul Kelly against his will".
The pair replied "not guilty" to the kidnapping charge.
They were also accused of robbery, making threats to kill Mr Kelly as well as assaulting the taxi driver - in which they replied "not guilty" to all the charges.
A trial date of April 16 was set in court yesterday with Judge McReynolds releasing both men on continuing bail under the strict conditions set earlier this year.
Among the conditions of their release are that they must not consume alcohol in a public place, have no contact with each other and are not allowed to travel in taxis.
