Co Antrim men in court accused of having 'military-style' assault weapon and drugs

Andrew Morrow (44), of North Road, Carrickfergus and Gerald Verner (33), of Fairview Terrace, Newtownabbey, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court via video link from police custody.

Both are charged with possessing a M4 carbine rifle and a quantity of 5.56mm rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances, having the weapon and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Verner is further charged with possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, possessing Class C drugs and having criminal property, namely £4325 in cash. A PSNI detective constable said she could detect both defendants to the charges.

She told District Judge George Connor that police on patrol on Friday May 5 observed Verner "jumping over a 7ft front fence at Morrow's North Road home'' and getting into his car.

He was stopped and searched and a small quantity of 'cannabis edibles' was found in his "man bag''."In the North Road property there was a M4 carbine, a quantity of ammunition and a large quantity of Class A cocaine with an estimated street value of £50,000,'' said the detective.

"These items were found in a bedroom that didn't look occupied. The weapon has yet to be tested to see if it is a weapon before we can do any forensic analysis on it and that has been expedited."But enquiries to date lead us to believe that this is a fully functioning rifle which is quite significant.

"Mr Morrow lives at the property and he didn't come back at it until 10 pm that night.''Verner's defence solicitor Mark Austin said he was objecting to his client being connected to the 'North Road charges' as "he is not seen exiting the property or the four walls of the building. A male was observed jumping over a fence. There is no connection to these charges. There is no forensics and no DNA evidence.''

The detective added that Verner was seen leaving the "confines of the property, the back door was open and he had access to the four walls''.She told the court that Verner declined to answer questions about his presence at North Road. In relation to the £4,320 in cash found at his home, he stated that it was a loan from his cousin to get a private apartment but refused to give the name of his cousin.

A Public Prosecution Service lawyer said: "Mr Verner is a known associate of Mr Morrow. He is seen leaping out of the North Road property and it is a reasonable proposition to say that he was in the house."In that house of a known associate of his, a weapon, ammunition and a significant amount of drugs were found. At his (Verner's) home there were no weapons but there were drugs and a significant amount of money.

"He told police at the scene that 'you won't find my prints' on the weapon, ammunition and drugs. We say there is a significant amount of circumstantial evidence to connect him to the 'North Road charges'.''District Judge Connor said that although the defence had raised triable issues about the charges, "there is just enough in the round to take it over the threshold of connection''.

While Morrow did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody, police objected to Verner being released on bail claiming he was likely to commit further offences, would not abide by bail conditions and was a flight risk.

Citing his criminal record, the detective constable said Verner had convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, rape and threats to kill. "He is currently on court bail for quite a serious assault in October 2022. He has breached that bail on several occasions,'' said the officer.

"He has a propensity for violent behaviour. The discovery of this firearm would lead police to believe that this defendant is prepared to go to extreme lengths to cause violence which could result in in the loss of life.''She added the £50,000 cocaine haul would lead police to believe that he is "involved in a substantial organised drug supply network involving the possession and moving of wholesale quantities of Class A and Class B drugs to unknown entities''.

District Judge Connor said that as there were triable issues, he was agreeing to release Verner on his own bail of £500 along with two sureties totalling £1,500 along with strict conditions.He is to reside with his partner in Carrickfergus, abide by a 8 pm to 8 am curfew, would be electronically tagged and must report daily to police.

Unemployed Verner is not to enter the North Road property or "loiter'' within 500 metres of the house. He is to surrender all travel documents, banned from applying for a new passport, is not to leave Northern Ireland and is allowed only to use public transport.He was also ordered to surrender his mobile phone and give pin code access when requested by police.The judge told Verner: "You are very fortunate and very lucky to get bail today. If you break these terms there is a very high risk you will be remanded into custody until the case is sorted and I suspect this case will be a very long time in the investigation.''

The case will be mentioned again on June 5, 2023.