Roy Irvine, 29, of Whitecliff Parade in Belfast, and Ryan Devlin, 29, of Whitewell Grove in Newtownabbey, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with burglary from a house in Catherine Court, Newtownabbey, on Sunday evening.

A Volkswagen Tiguan was stolen from the cul-de-sac during the incident. Devlin faces additional charges of aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Irvine is charged with allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car, resisting police, disorderly behaviour, and possessing Class C drugs.

Both men are jointly accused of fraud by false representation for attempting to use bank cards from the vehicle owner. Police saw the men in an intoxicated state at Catherine Court.

The stolen Tiguan drove erratically, struck a kerb, and headed toward the M2 motorway. Officers signalled it to stop on the Monagh Bypass in west Belfast, but it sped through residential areas before colliding with a PSNI vehicle on Monagh Link. Two officers received minor injuries.

Devlin allegedly tried to drive away again until the vehicle stalled. Both suspects received hospital treatment after detention.

Police opposed Irvine's bail application, stating he shouted derogatory remarks at patients and staff at the Mater Hospital, expressed wishes for officers to be shot, voiced support for dissident republican paramilitaries, and attempted to ingest suspected crushed Diazepam tablets from a bag hidden in his underwear.

District Judge Steven Keown refused bail for Irvine due to risks of re-offending and public harm. Devlin did not apply for bail. Both men were remanded in custody until April 2.