Men jailed for 18-hour rampage

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Two west Belfast men have been jailed for 10 years each following a violent, drug-fuelled, 18-hour crime rampage.

The robbers targeted a chemist shop, an off licence and two houses in Antrim and Saintfield on 9 June last year.

A 78-year-old woman had a gun pointed at her and a 65-year-old householder swung a shotgun at the pair who smashed their way with hammers into his home.

The two robbers were James Kane, 28, from Springfield Park and Gerard Skelly, 29, from Norglen Drive.

They were told by Judge Kevin Finnegan in Belfast Crown Court on Thursday that they were "violent and selfish".

Kane was linked to the Antrim house robbery by DNA and fingerprints. He pleaded guilty to stealing a car, burglary and theft.

Hammers

In the Saintfield robbery, the court heard that a 65-year-old man confronted the intruders. They left and returned 20 minutes later with a handgun and a hammer.

The prosecuting lawyer said they smashed their way through two glass doors and fled only after the occupant lifted a shotgun and swung it, hitting Skelly on the head.

Skelly's DNA was found in blood at the scene and he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm with intent.

At the chemist shop on Belfast's Woodvale Road, a gun was pointed an an assistant and more than £150 cash and 900 Diazepam tablets were taken.

In the off-licence, a 78-year-old pensioner was left traumatised after a gun was pointed at her.

A defence lawyer for Skelly said his client had been in care from the age of 11 years.

He said he was "utterly under the influence" of Diazepam during what he called a period of "madness".

Kane's barrister said his client had an addictive personality and the motivation for the crimes was money and drugs.