Dead man's brother on arms charge

A brother of a man shot dead in the loyalist feud in the Shankill Road area of Belfast appeared in court yesterday on a firearms…

A brother of a man shot dead in the loyalist feud in the Shankill Road area of Belfast appeared in court yesterday on a firearms charge.

Mr Arthur Paul Rockett (33), whose brother Samuel (21), was killed on Wednesday night, was charged with possessing a revolver loaded with six bullets and a further 26 rounds of ammunition last Monday with intent to endanger life.

He hobbled into the dock at the Magistrates' Court on crutches after sustaining a broken ankle during his arrest.

It is understood he came off his motorcycle when police gave chase after he allegedly failed to stop at a road block in the Donegall Road area.

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Mr Rockett, from Workman Avenue, in the Woodvale area of Belfast, was remanded in custody until September 20th.

Outside the court his solicitor said an application would be made in the High Court today for compassionate bail to enable Mr Rockett to attend his brother's funeral tomorrow.