Mullaghbawn: Wanted men found 'tied up and covered in paint'

[Nergal]

 

Police have taken two wanted men back into custody after they were found tied up on a bench in a County Armagh village.

James White and Alexis Guesto were wanted for offences including breach of licence and warrants.

Images shared on social media appear to show them tied up and covered in paint.

The police said both men had sustained injuries and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Det Ch Insp Jill Duffie, from the PSNI's Public Protection Branch, said the police would be investigating the assaults and "working to identify anyone involved".

"I understand that feelings in the area have been running high over the search for these men, however, there can never be an excuse for violence or people taking the law into their own hands," she said.

Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Larkin said he believed the men had been covered in paint and that it was "unfortunate but understandable considering the distress the community had been under".

"Feelings were running high. It's unfortunate that's happened but thankfully these two individuals are in police custody," he said.

He praised the "vigilance of the south Armagh community in relation to these two individuals" and said the "cooperation between our community and the PSNI over the past few days is worthy of praise".

Earlier on Saturday, the police said it was believed the two men had travelled to Northern Ireland from the Republic.

There have been a number of reported sightings of them in south Armagh and Newry, County Down.

On Thursday afternoon, police seized a car from a car park on the Chancellors Road in Mullaghbawn after a member of the public expressed concern.