Northern Ireland

Three west Belfast men to go on trial accused of stealing JCB digger and trailer

Robert Braniff (34) pictured during a previous hearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court
Robert Braniff (34) pictured during a previous hearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court Robert Braniff (34) pictured during a previous hearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court

THREE west Belfast men are to go on trial for theft after they denied stealing a JCB digger and trailer worth more than £20,000 two years ago.

Standing side by side in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court, 28-year-old Damien Rush, Robert Braniff (34) and 49-year-old Patrick McGowan entered not guilty pleas to the one count they’re jointly charged on.

Rush, from Balkan Street, Braniff, of Ballymurphy Road and McGowan, from Britton’s Parade, are accused of stealing the JCB digger and Ivor Williams trailer, worth £26,000, from the Knockbracken estate on March 23 2017.

Braniff and McGowan also denied a further count accusing them of driving a Vauxhall Vectra car on the Drumbeg Road in Lisburn without insurance.

Freeing the men on bail, Judge Patrick Lynch said he would review their cases in the next two weeks, ahead of a potential trial date in September.