Man facing firearms claim

Man facing firearms claim

19 November 2014

A 26 year-old man is to appear in court tomorrow morning after an alleged firearms incident in Downpatrick at the weekend.

The man has been charged with possessing a firearm or imitation firearm in suspicious circumstances as well as other charges, including assault.

The charges follow an incident in Scotch Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

An altercation took place between several people outside a fast food outlet. A 19 year-old man sustained a swollen cheek and lip and cuts to his face and back.

A 21 year old male sustained a cut to his face after he claimed he had been bitten and struck in the face with a firearm.

A 26 year old man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and assault.

He is currently in custody assisting police with their enquiries. What are believed to be a number of imitation firearms were recovered following a search of a property in the Church View area of the town. Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the altercation in the Scotch Street area to contact CID in Downpatrick on the non-emergency number 101. 

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.