A man accused of pointing an imitation gun at children playing in the street outside his south Belfast home claims he was training pigeons, the High Court heard on Wednesday.
Charles Cunning, 58, denies brandishing a pistol at the young girls from an upstairs window of the property on Empire Street earlier this year.
Armed response police officers were called to the scene after the “terrified” nine-year-olds fled and altered their parents, a judge was told.
Prosecutors also revealed that Cunning was out on bail at the time over previous allegations of pulling a fake gun on a motorist.
Cunning faces separate charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and threats to damage property.
The court heard he allegedly pointed a black handgun at the children as they passed his home on August 23.
“Terrified, they ran from the area and reported the incident to their parents.” Crown counsel Charlene Dempsey said.
She claimed members of an armed response unit deployed to the address observed an arm extended out an upper window, this time holding an orange-coloured gun.
Officers verbally challenged and arrested Cunning at the property.
Two suspected replica handguns and an imitation shotgun were seized when police searched his home.
During interviews the accused told police he had recent issues with unidentified local children smashing his living room window, but denied pointing anything at the children.
“He claimed that at the time of the alleged incident he was upstairs in the bedroom feeding and training pigeons,” Ms Dempsey said.
“He stated that he may have repeatedly tapped (a gun) on the window to get the attention of the pigeons.”
The court heard Cunning is also facing prosecution over a previous incident at another location on May 18 this year.
“In the earlier case he pulled an imitation firearm on a member of the public driving his vehicle in a built up area,” counsel alleged.
Bail was opposed due to the potential threat to public safety.
“This is the second incident in three months,” Ms Dempsey argued.
“When police arrived at the location, members of the public were asking what action was going to be taken about the applicant pointing a gun at children.
“The local community is very unhappy about this perceived risk.”
Adjourning Cunning’s application for bail, Mr Justice Fowler said he would not consider the case without a psychiatric report.