Drunk policeman waved loaded gun

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8050788.stm

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An ex-policeman has been put on probation for a year after admitting waving a loaded pistol during a drunken confrontation with two women in Newry.

The women were confronted by Martin Gerard Agnew, 28, after going out to investigate an engine revving near their houses in Barcroft Park.

Agnew, whose address was given as care of Ardmore Police Station, also admitted drunk driving.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay each of the women £750.

A prosecution lawyer said Agnew, who was a part-time officer at the time of the offence, appeared to point his service issue Glock pistol towards the women before swinging it around his finger during the incident on 29 September 2008.

The lawyer told Newry Crown Court that officers were called to the scene and Agnew was arrested a short time later, but the gun was not with him at that time because his sister had taken it from him.

Officers later found the loaded weapon at his house.

The lawyer said that during questioning the next day, Agnew "frankly admitted" that he had been driving and had the gun with him.

However, he denied pointing it at anyone.

Agnew, who has since resigned from the police, claimed he had gone to Barcroft Park in an effort to get the attention of his former girlfriend who also lived there.

A defence barrister said the incident was "wholly out of Agnew's character" and was borne out of a "fairly stormy break-down" in the relationship.

Describing it as "somewhat out of the ordinary," the judge also banned Agnew from driving for a year.