‘Gothic horror’ nail-studded claw hammer and samurai sword seized after Lincoln Courts incident

The hammer, which was shown to the court, was described by District Judge Barney McElholm as a “gothic horror weapon”.

The court heard that PSNI officers used CS spray in attempt to break up a fight between the accused, Paul Murray of Shearwater Way, and two men after they were called to Lincoln Courts in the early hours of Saturday morning last, following reports that a man had been tasered.

When officers arrived at the scene they found Murray on the ground with the claw hammer in his hand and a two-foot Samurai sword lying beside him.

Addressing the court a PSNI Constable said that he believed the fight had broken out following an earlier incident in which Murray’s son had allegedly tasered John Starrs, following a row over a house party. Paul Murray is accused of assaulting both John Starrs and Richard Bowers, who were at the scene when police arrived.

The constable told the court that during interview after his arrest Murray had told police that he was protecting his house after a large crowd had gathered outside and had begun shouting that he would be burned out and threatened to kill him.

Murray told police that the sword was “ornamental” and said “but thank Christ I had it” in his statement.

The constable also told the court that officers had searched Murray’s house following the incident and found a taser gun box but no taser gun. A collection of what were described as “machete-style knives” were also discovered.

During the search it was also discovered that Murray’s electricity meter was rigged and he was also charged with theft following and inspection by NIE engineers.

The constable said that police had “grave concerns” that if Murray were to be released on bail, he would interfere with witnesses, “We have already approached people who were to scared to give statements,” he said.

Moira Lavery of Stelfox and Co, who represented Murray, told the court the her client had been protecting his house after between 15 and 20 men had shown up and threatened him.

“My client admits that he was stupid not to call the police,” said Ms Lavery. “He lifted the two items in question to protect his house. “The incident is completely out of character for him and while he does have a criminal record the court would have to look back to 1997 to find a disorderly behaviour charge. The knives found in the house belong to Mr Murray’s son who has been collecting them since he was a young boy.”

Ms Lavery also told the court that Murray had found the claw hammer in a nearby green area and had lifted it so that it would not be picked up by young children.

“This instrument was designed to do somebody serious harm,” said Judge McElholm. “If 15 or twenty men were gathered outside my house I would have certainly called the police. I’m not sure what the background to all of this is.”

Judge McElholm said that the bail address of Sperrin Park which was offfered to the court was “nowhere near” far enough away. “Try Belfast,” he said. “I have never in my life seen an implement like this. There is a very serious risk of witness interference and these things do not tend to settle down quickly. Who has ever heard if a young boy collecting knives? Football cards maybe but not knives. Bail is refused.”

Murray was remanded in custody to appear via video link on September 29.