TWO police officers charged with possessing a loaded gun while drunk or on drugs may face further charges, a judge heard today.

Constables Samuel David Beattie (23) and Paul Coulter (24) did not appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court and none of facts were opened in court but a police officer gave evidence that he believed he could connect the pair to their respective charges.

Beattie and Coulter, both with address at PSNI Headquarters, are jointly accused of having a loaded firearm while drunk “or under the influence of drugs” on June 7 this year.

While Coulter is also accused of supplying a loaded gun to a person he “knew or had reasonable cause to believe was drink or under the influence of drugs,” Beattie is charged with causing criminal damage to a roof belonging to a female.

The charges arise after police were called to a house party in Dunmurry in the early hours after a shot was allegedly fired from a legally-held weapon into the kitchen ceiling.

It is understood police arrived at the scene and the loaded weapon was recovered and a number of people arrested.

In court yesterday a prosecuting lawyer revealed the officers may face “possible additional charges” so the Public Prosecution Service were seeking a four week adjournment.

District Judge Nigel Broderick put the case for mention to July 30.