Man remanded over Larne gun attack

A County Antrim man has been remanded in custody charged with a gun attack on a house in Larne in the early hours of Monday morning.

Jonathan McCormac, 30, from Wellington Street in Larne, is charged with attempting to murder James and Aislinn Hassin and their three children at their home on Brustin Brae Road.

Shots were fired into the hallway but no-one was injured. A car was also set alight and burnt out.

Mr McCormac has also been charged with ten other offences including hijacking a car and carrying a firearm with the intent to commit an offence.

A police officer told Ballymena Magistrates Court, the attack was “linked to ongoing tensions between loyalist paramilitaries, James Hassin and his family.”

The court heard a Volkswagen Bora was driven to Brustin Brae Road after it was hijacked from the Craigy Hill area by two masked men at around 2am on Monday morning.

It was heard that they opened the vehicle's door and pointed a shotgun to the drivers head and said: “If you call the police we know who you are and will be back for you.”

The court was also told that searches were carried out close to Mr McCormac's house on Tuesday where two shot guns, cartridges and a crowbar were found.

Objecting to bail the police officer said: “It seems any associates of Mr Hassin are being attacked and last night a car belonging to one of Aislinn Hassin's parents was attacked.”

Refusing bail district judge Peter king said: “I sit here every Wednesday and Thursday and see cases coming in from Larne every single week."

Mr McCormac was remanded in custody to appear in court again via video link in three-weeks time.