County Down man charged with threatening to kill Stormont's Health Minister

by Q Radio News

A Co. Down man was today (thurs) charged with threatening to kill the Stormont Health Minister.

At Newtownards Magistrates Court, William Herbert Hawkes (43) was charged with making a threat to kill Robin Swann on 20 August this year, “intending that he would fear it would be carried out."

Hawkes, from Ardmillan Crescent in Ards, was also charged with pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of Mr Swann and with the improper use of a telecommunication network in that he allegedly sent a “message or other matter that was of a menacing nature” on the same date.

None of the facts surrounding the allegations were opened in court but it is understood they relate to a number of online messages and comments about Mr Swann.

Giving evidence to the court, a police officer said she believed she could connect Hawkes to each of the offences while the defendant himself did not appear at court.

A prosecuting lawyer told the court “the full file is outstanding” so he was seeking an adjournment of up to eight weeks and defence counsel Kelly Doherty said she had no objection to that.

Deputy District Judge Joe Rice adjourned the case to 12 November.