A MAN accused of drunkenly pointing a firearm at a pub in Denman on Wednesday night has been detained and ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.
Damian John O'Shea, 46, appeared in Singleton Local Court on Thursday charged with a string of firearm offences, mid-range drink driving, intimidation and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He did not enter any pleas and his solicitor asked that he be taken to a mental health facility to undergo an assessment.
Police say they were called to a licensed premises on Ogilvie Street about 9.15pm on Wednesday after reports a man had produced a weapon. Police were told the man, who had earlier been at the hotel, got out of his car outside the pub and pointed a firearm at the premises.
He then left the scene and the police were called.
No one was injured.
Hunter Valley police arrived and launched an investigation and following inquiries and a search of the area, police stopped a Holden Captiva on the New England Highway at Singleton Heights about 10.10pm.
The driver, who police say was Mr O'Shea, allegedly returned a positive breath test and a search of the car allegedly uncovered a firearm, which was seized for forensic examination.
Mr O'Shea was arrested and taken to Singleton police station where he underwent a breath analysis and allegedly returned a reading of 0.146.
He was charged and refused bail before being sent for the assessment.
