Man allegedly caught with loaded gun by passing police patrol in Co Armagh, court told

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/man-allegedly-caught-with-loaded-gun-by-passing-police-patrol-in-co-armagh-court-told/a1403076234.html

Paul Higgins
Yesterday at 15:14

A man was allegedly caught with a loaded handgun by police in Co Armagh when he tried to run away from a passing PSNI patrol, a court has heard.

Lisburn Magistrates Court also heard that when 33-year-old Keith Doddy was tackled to the ground in the Drumellan area of Craigavon on Saturday, officers heard a “metallic clunking sound”.

Officers found a Glock pistol, loaded with an extendable magazine containing 16 bullets.

A detective constable said the magazine has a 19-round capacity.

The firearm, along with clothing seized from Doddy, has been sent for forensic testing for the presence of cartridge discharge residue which will ascertain whether the weapon was used.

Standing in the dock, Doddy, whose address was listed as no fixed abode, Dublin, was charged with possessing the firearm and ammunition under suspicious circumstances.

During a contested bail application, the detective constable told the court how police were on patrol in the Drumellan area of Craigavon just after 8pm on Saturday evening when they saw a man running away from the PSNI vehicle.

“Police gave chase and an officer tackled him as he ran past him,” said the officer.

“As the defendant was brought to the ground, police heard a metallic noise hitting the ground, like something had fallen from his person and when officers looked there was a black handgun, believed to be a Glock 17, loaded… lying a short distance away from the defendant.”

Arrested and interviewed, Doddy refused to answer police questions and during an exchange with District Judge Rosie Watters, the officer confirmed there were no reports of shots being fired around the same time and the seizure was a “random thing” as a result of the defendant running away.

The detective said police were objecting to Doddy being freed on bail due to concerns he would commit further offences or would flee the jurisdiction, highlighting that he is from Dublin, and while he has only a handful of convictions in Northern Ireland, he has 41 in the Republic of Ireland where he is also subject to seven bench warrants for his arrest.

“He was in possession of a loaded handgun in public and the police have concerns that he was about to commit a more serious offence,” said the officer.

Under cross-examination from defence solicitor Owen Beattie, the officer agreed that as it stands there is no forensic evidence to link Doddy to the loaded weapon which was found “one to three metres from him”.

The officer also conceded there is no timetable for when the findings from the laboratory will be obtained so while Mr Beattie admitted “it’s a difficult bail application”, he submitted that with stringent conditions Doddy could be freed.

District Judge Watters told the solicitor, however, she was concerned about further offences and Doddy not turning up for trial so bail was refused and he was remanded into custody.

The case was adjourned to March 8.

by columboscoat