The Five Demands

Man in court over shots fired at PSNI (UTV)

A 57-year-old man from Ardoyne has appeared in court in connection with a gun attack on police in North Belfast during Twelfth of July rioting.
Michael Gorman, from Estoril Court, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a semi-automatic firearm with intent to endanger life.

Shots were fired at police lines in the Brompton Park area in the early hours of 13 July.

Police were present to deal with outbreaks of rioting following the Twelfth of July parades. No officers were injured as a result of the shots.

A detective sergeant said he could connect the accused with the charge.

“The hearing was over within minutes, the accused said nothing in the dock, but waved to family and friends in the public gallery,” said reporter Sharon O’Neill who was at court.

His lawyer, John Finucane, confirmed he was not seeking bail at this stage.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded him in custody to appear again by video-link in two weeks’ time.

So far 17 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Ardoyne on the Twelfth night and 16 people have been charged.

Gorman is the second man to be charged in connection with the shooting incident.

Last month Thomas McWilliams, 47, of Northwick Drive, Belfast, appeared in court charged with attempting to murder police and possession of a rifle with intent.

He is alleged to have been in a car which took the weapon away from the scene.