A person who allegedly walked round a busy purchasing centre in Lisburn with a gun and knife “in full public view” has been ordered to face trial.
Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court docket immediately, Gregory Gordon Aaron Wallace (50) confirmed he was conscious of the seven fees in opposition to him, all alleged to have been dedicated in Bow Road Mall on February 22, this 12 months.
Wallace, from Johnston Method in Lisburn, is accused of possessing a handgun with no certificates, three counts of getting a firearm with intent to trigger worry of violence, having ammunition beneath suspicious circumstances, possessing a weapon in public and theft of £54 of groceries from Tesco.
The particulars of the fees disclose that the firearms offences all relate to airsoft weapons loaded with metallic ball bearings, whereas the weapon cost accuses Wallace of getting a black dealt with knife.
Not one of the background circumstances had been opened in court docket however earlier courts have heard how safety workers on the purchasing centre contacted the police at round 2.45pm on Tuesday, February 22, after they allegedly noticed Wallace strolling round with a knife and a handgun tucked into the waistband of his trousers.
He walked over to Costa Espresso the place he was speaking to a different buyer till a police canine handler and Armed Response Unit arrived on the scene and approached Wallace.
As they did so, Wallace stood up and appeared to achieve for the waistband of his trousers.
Believing each the officers and the general public “had been in speedy hazard”, Wallace was tackled to the bottom by police.
“He talked about being a soldier and Covid-19 was his enemy and he was ready to die,” claimed a police officer, including that Wallace additionally allegedly “requested officers to shoot him”
The gun in Wallace’s waistband turned out to be an air tender pistol and the officer stated that he had a sports activities bag with him which when searched, was additionally discovered to include an identical handgun, a rifle and a smoke grenade.
There was additionally quite a few allegedly stolen meals gadgets and an empty bottle of Southern Consolation.
When the “closely intoxicated” Wallace was taken to A&E, police discovered one other knife on his individual, whereas observe up searches at his house uncovered an additional 20 air tender kind weapons together with pistols, rifles and shotguns.
Throughout police interviews, he admitted he had stolen and drunk the bottle of Southern Consolation having taken “double of his medicine” that morning.
He confirmed that he left his home with the bag that morning, claiming he had the weapons “for air tender” and that he had the knives “for his personal safety” as he's beneath risk.
“This incident has induced worry, misery and alarm to witnesses,” stated the officer.
A prosecuting lawyer submitted there's a Prima Facie case in opposition to Wallace, which was conceded by defence counsel Joel Lindsay.
The court docket clerk informed Wallace that though not obliged to, he had the correct to touch upon the fees and to name proof on his personal behalf, however he declined the chance.
Releasing Wallace on persevering with bail, District Decide Rosie Watters returned the case to Craigavon Crown Court docket for trial, scheduling the arraignment to be heard on November 15.