Belfast man forced to rob bookmakers by paramilitaries, court hears

A 33-year old man who was arrested following the attempted robbery of two bookmakers in north Belfast this week claimed he was acting under duress from paramilitaries, a court heard.

Paul Edward McWilliams appeared in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court on six charges arising from the attempted robbery of a bookmakers in Union Street, and a second attempted robbery at a bookmakers in nearby Little Donegall Street on Tuesday.

Mr McWilliams, from Antrim Road in Belfast, was charged with two counts of attempted robbery, two counts of going equipped for theft and two counts of carrying a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.

A police constable said he believed he could connect Mr McWilliams to the charges before the court. He also said police were objecting to Mr McWilliams being released on bail, on the grounds that he claimed he was under duress from paramilitaries to carry out a number of armed robberies.

The police objection, the constable said, was that if he was released, Mr McWilliams “would come under the same pressure to commit further offences”.

He said this was the only objection police had to bail.

A solicitor acting on behalf of Mr McWilliams said his client lived with his elderly mother who was in ill health, and that he was her “only carer”.

The solicitor also pointed out that Mr McWilliams came before the court with a clear criminal record, and that there was no issues with either alcohol or drug abuse.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall said that given the paramilitary pressure, Mr McWilliams was "unfortunately an easy target". She remanded him in custody and ordered that he appear before the court again on August 5th.