A loyalist who made a 999 call to threaten Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson had been on a drinking spree, a court heard today.
Darren Scott, 34, from Croft Court in east Belfast, had consumed 12 pints of cider and a number of bottles of WKD when he made the telephone call to the emergency services yesterday.
The unemployed father-of-four was remanded in custody after appearing at Newtownards Magistrates' Court this morning.
He was charged with threatening to kill Mr Robinson and improper use of an electronic communications network.
PSNI Detective Constable Owen Nevin said he believed there was evidence linking the accused to the charges.
He revealed that Mr Scott had made two 999 calls which were 40 minutes apart.
In one, he claimed responsibility for the attempted murder of a female police officer whose patrol car was petrol bombed as it was parked outside the offices of under-threat Alliance Party MP Naomi Long on 10 November.
DC Nevin told the court: "There was no other evidence to back up the claim."
However, the detective said there was evidence of clear intent when Mr Scott threatened in another call to kill the DUP leader and First Minister.
"There is evidence to back this up," DC Nevin said.
Mr Scott was arrested at his home after spelling out his full name and address for the 999 call handlers.
