Northern Ireland

Gun pointed at teen during break-in

Chloe Hawthorne was threatened at her home in Co Armagh. Picture from BBC
Chloe Hawthorne was threatened at her home in Co Armagh. Picture from BBC Chloe Hawthorne was threatened at her home in Co Armagh. Picture from BBC

An MLA is seeking an urgent meeting with police after a teenage girl had a gun pointed at her during a break-in at her home.

Chloe Hawthorne (17) was threatened at the house on Seagahan Road in Markethill, Co Armagh shortly after 4.40pm on Tuesday.

It followed several other incidents in the area, including a break-in at Damoily Road in which a legally held firearm was stolen, and a collision on the Seagahan Road close to the junction of Redrock Road.

Four men made off from the scene of the crash, which involved a Vauxhall Insignia reported stolen in the Republic.

A short time later four men approached the rear of the house on the Seagahan Road, where a suspected handgun was pointed at Ms Hawthorne through a kitchen window.

She refused to open the back door but the men smashed their way in through a door panel and again pointed the gun at her, demanding she hand over car keys.

They took her mobile phone before fleeing in her white Ford Fiesta, which was recovered later that evening across the border.

Ms Hawthorne said she thought she might die in the burglary.

"Especially when they were shouting 'I'll shoot if you don't give me the keys'," she told the BBC.

"I thought that was it. You kind of imagine these situations happening and you don't think they are going to happen to you."

PSNI Detective Inspector Stephen Harvey appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

Ulster Unionist Newry and Armagh MLA Danny Kennedy said those responsible "have no thought, consideration or care for what they put this lady through".

“This was the latest robbery in a matter of days in the general area and it is particularly concerning that this attack involved the use of firearms. I'll be seeking an urgent meeting with local police chiefs to discuss the situation.”