Portaferry man accused of double robbery spree

Portaferry man accused of double robbery spree

11 January 2012

A PORTAFERRY man was allegedly part of a spree of robberies across two towns in the same night, the High Court has heard.

William Mercer is accused of taking part in heists at two fast-food outlets and another failed raid on a sweet shop in Coleraine and Ballymena.

Mercer (22), of Cloughey Road, who faces two counts of robbery and another of attempted robbery, made a bail application to the High Court last week.

He is alleged to have gone into the Candy Bar in Ballymena, masked and carrying a hammer, on November 15.

Nothing was stolen from those premises, but an hour later around £270 in cash was seized from the Harbour Chip Shop in Coleraine. Within minutes £900 was taken during a second raid on another fast-food restaurant in the town.

On both occasions the masked robber brandished a hammer, the court heard.

CCTV footage was used to identify the 27 year-old man, a former PSNI officer, who is alleged to have driven the car used in all three incidents. Two hammers, and around £600 in notes and coins were recovered from his house.

Fiona O’Kane, prosecuting, said Mercer was only located and arrested on Christmas Eve at his foster parents’ home.

Opposing bail, she said: “Police are concerned about any further offences given the spree this applicant was (allegedly) on on the night in question.

However, Mr. Francis Raffery, defending, told the court his client “made no bones whatsoever” about his involvement.

But he stressed: “Any suggestion that he was the main mover behind this offence would be strongly contested. The co-accused is an ex-police officer. It would seem he was the driver.”

According to Mr. Rafferty he was dismissed from the PSNI due to drugs-related issues. The barrister added that Mercer was heavily drunk on the day of the robberies.

He disclosed that his client suffers from foetal alcohol syndrome due to his birth mother’s alleged drinking. “It renders him, in the view of his foster parents, something of a vulnerable adult,” he said.

Mercer’s application for bail was adjourned so that any relevant Social Services reports can be provided to the court.

The judge, Mr. Justice Stephens, pointed out to counsel: “I’m not indicating one way or the other what the outcome will be.”