Man in court over threat to kill children at east Belfast school

A man has been remanded in custody in Belfast charged with threatening to kill children.

Appearing in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court, Martyn James Price (33) spoke only to confirm that he understood the four charges against him.

Mr Price is charged with making a threat to kill children to staff at Gamys online gambling site on January 23rd an dusing a public communication system to convey a message which he knew to be false “for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety”.

Mr Price, of no fixed address but who had previous address at India Street and Rathmore Drive in Belfast, is also charged with possessing cannabis on the same date.

He is further charged with causing criminal damage to a kettle, table, chairs and a lamp belonging to Apple properties on a date unknown between December 29th, 2014 and January 22nd this year.

Mr Price was arrested on Thursday night in Belfast following a joint operation between the PSNI and the Garda.

It is understood the alleged threats to kill relate to children at Elmgrove Primary School on the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast. The school, which has 560 pupils, remained closed on Friday.

Giving evidence to the court, a detective constable said she believed she could connect Mr Price to the charges, adding that she also executed two bench warrants issued for his arrest, including one dating back to 2000.

Those offences relate to charges that Mr Price stole a car which he then drive dangerously, without insurance or a driving licence on February 29th, 2001.

A third warrant relating to a case from Lisburn jurisdiction in which Mr Price is alleged to have stolen a bottle of vodka on April 14th, 2000, is to be executed this Monday.

Mr Price's solicitor said he was not applying for bail at this stage so District Judge George Conner remanded him into custody to appear again via videolink on January 30th, at which stage there will be a "potential" bail application.