Mother acted as driver, court told

Prosecutors claimed Mary McCullough, 29, picked up the suspects following the heist last Thursday, May 20.

McCullough, of Clonmeen, Drumgor in Craigavon, faces charges of robbery, carrying a firearm with intent, and failing to stop for police.

She was granted bail but ordered to stay away from the scene of the crime.

Three men have been charged in connection with the robbery, while police are also searching for another potential suspect.

The court heard two masked men entered the jewellery shop on Market Street, Tandragee armed with a sawn-off shotgun and a hammer.

A display counter was smashed, items seized, and a member of staff ordered to open a safe containing chains and watches left in for repair.

Crown counsel Kate McKay said the jewellery taken was valued at 50,000.

The raiders escaped and got into a waiting Audi A4 driven by a third man which had allegedly been hijacked from a car dealership in Mallusk, Newtownabbey.

It was set on fire near Scarva before the suspects ran to a BMW which McCullough is alleged to have driven.

Following a pursuit it was stopped in the Craigavon area and balaclavas, gloves and boiler suits recovered.

Another vehicle, a Vauxhall Corsa, was also searched and some of the stolen jewellery seized, the court heard.

Mrs McKay said: "It appears there was a switch at the scene where the Audi was burnt out.

"Jewellery (was moved) from the Audi to the Corsa, and the balaclavas were in the BMW."

More stolen goods and the sawn-off shotgun were found in a garden coal bunker in Clonmeen.

Mrs McKay added: "She [McCullough] is facing serious charges on the basis of joint enterprise. Her role was that of the driver in the case."

During questioning, the accused said she was contacted by her cousin to come and collect him and his friends. She denied any knowledge of the robbery.

Barry Gibson, defending, said: "She didn't feel she did anything wrong. She has been arrested and charged as a secondary party in this serious incident."

Mr Gibson disputed prosecution claims that she could interfere with the course of justice if released on bail.

He added: "She suffers from anxiety and clinically diagnosed depression. It would be fair to categorise her as vulnerable."

Granting bail, Mr Justice Treacy banned her from any contact with her co-accused or from going to Market Street, Tandragee.

The judge also imposed a curfew and ruled that she could not be released until her father lodges a 1,000 cash surety in court.