Two brothers with addresses in Kildare have appeared in Longford District Court in connection with a spate of thefts across the Shannonside region that led to a car chase across four counties over the weekend.

Father-of-two Thomas McCarthy (30) with an address at Spencer Bridge, Rathangan in Kildare faces five different charges while his brother John McCarthy (19), with the same address is facing six charges.

Both have been remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court on Friday.

The list of charges facing the brothers include four counts of theft each and one count of criminal damage each among others - all alleged to have taken place on Saturday.

In court this morning, gardaí advised Judge Seamus Hughes that during the course of the pursuit of the car - which also contained a third occupant - a number of dangerous driving incidents occurred, including the ramming of a patrol car on three occasions in Ballinalee.

Up to 15 patrol cars were involved before the getaway vehicle was stopped on the N4 near Mullingar. But the driver and two passengers took to the fields and hid in the undergrowth.

One man was arrested in minutes, a second was apprehended a short time later with the help of the garda helicopter and a third escaped and is still at large.

Further charges are anticipated and a file is being prepared for the DPP.