Two serving police officers today admit possessing a loaded gun while drunk or under the influence of drugs

By Q Radio News

Two serving police officers today admitted possessing a loaded gun while drunk or under the influence of drugs. 

While Constables Samuel David Beattie (23) and Paul Coulter (25) did not appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court, defence solicitor  Kellie Morwood told District Judge Rosie Watters “it’s guilty pleas to all matters for both defendants.”

Beattie and Coulter, both with an  address at PSNI Headquarters, admitted a joint charge  of having a loaded firearm while drunk “or under the influence of drugs” on 7th June this year.

While Coulter also admitted supplying a loaded gun to a person he  “knew or had reasonable cause to believe was drink or under the influence of drugs,” Beattie admitted  the further charge of causing criminal damage to a roof belonging to a female. 

The charges arise after police were called to a house party in Dunmurry in the early hours after a shot was fired from a legally-held weapon into the kitchen ceiling.

It is understood police arrived at the scene and the loaded weapon was recovered and a number of people arrested.

Following the guilty pleas in court today, DJ Watters reiterated her view that “I don’t think that this is the appropriate venue” for a case which she repeatedly described as “serious.”

A prosecuting lawyer told the judge her views had been referred upwards within the PPS and that the Deputy Director had considered the case while Ms Morwood revealed the defence had written to the prosecution seeking “an alternative disposal.”

“I find that interesting...but I think it’s a much more serious case,” said the judge adding “I think I will get pre-sentence reports for these cases.”

She said she would sentence the officers on 3 December.