Heroin addict accused of shop robbery refused bail

A HEROIN addict allegedly robbed a south Belfast shop armed with a broom handle to fund his habit, the High Court has heard.

Daryl McCourt (24) is accused of stealing £400 in cash and £100 worth of cigarettes last week.

A judge was also told McCourt, of London Road in the city, has spent every birthday and Christmas in custody since he was 15.

But refusing bail, Mr Justice McAlinden ruled: “The issue of public protection must come to the fore.”

McCourt faces charges of robbery, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, and assaulting a police-designated person.

Prosecution counsel Conor Maguire said a man entered the convenience store on the Dublin Road on November 24 wielding a broken metal shaft believed to be from a brush.

He demanded money before going behind the counter and taking the cash and cigarettes.

McCourt was later arrested in the Ormeau Road area.

Mr Maguire said he had a large amount of cash on him, including £200 down a sock, and 12 packets of cigarettes.

While in custody McCourt allegedly threw a phone at a jailer and told him: “So f ***, sure it will only be a £25 fine.”

He claimed to have no memory of the events. But when CCTV footage was shown he made admissions about the robbery and having an offensive weapon, the court heard.

Turlough Madden, defending, confirmed his client is a heroin addict who spent his teenage years in the care system.

“It’s a sad case where Mr Mc

Court has been in the custodial setting for every birthday and Christmas since the age of 15,” the barrister said.

However, Mr Justice McAlinden cited the drug dependency as a reason for denying bail.

He said: “There are significant problems endemic with the use of heroin.

“It’s not just that he’s causing a nuisance, it’s a case of allegedly engaging in the robbery of a store in order to fund his habit.”