Detectives are appealing for information about the incident in Newtownabbey on Saturday night.

The court heard Francis Broughan (47) of Shangan Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, had earlier hijacked a car parked outside a supermarket in North Dublin, after holding an object to the neck of the 81-year-old driver.

The court heard that the armed support and helicopter unit had to surround David McNamara’s house in order for gardaí to arrest him, after two failed attempts

Donna Dineen (28) then dragged the driver out of the vehicle and punched or kicked him in the face before she drove off

The driver escaped from the car and reported the incident to gardaí

Noel Ryan spoke only to give instructions to his solicitor, Sean McCormack, who told the judge that there was no bail application last week.