Father of 19 children accused of four burglaries in one day

A father-of-19 accused of carrying out four house burglaries in a single afternoon must remain in custody, a High Court judge ruled yesterday in Belfast.

Henry Purcell was refused bail after a judge was told raiders posed as Water Board workers at the home of one elderly victim.

The 52-year-old was arrested after a police helicopter tracked a car suspected of being used by those who targeted three properties in Coleraine, Co Derry, and another in Armoy, Co Antrim.

Mr Purcell, of Whitewell Road in Newtownabbey, is charged with four counts of burglary with intent to steal on October 7th. He faces further counts of going equipped for burglary by having false number plates, and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Prosecutors said police deployed a helicopter after receiving reports that three men in a black Renault Laguna were involved in the raids. Mr Purcell was detained after the car was stopped in Doagh, Co Antrim. Defence counsel Alan Stewart told the court his client earns a legitimate income from trading in cars and horses. When seeking bail, his barrister said: "He has 19 children . . . In the time he has been remanded in custody one of his daughters has given birth to his 23rd grandchild."

But Mr Justice Deeny refused bail, citing the risk of reoffending.