'Key witness' in brothel case to remain anonymous

Christopher Patrick Murdoch (42) whose address was given as Coleraine Police Station, is charged with doing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.

The charge relate to an undercover police operation which uncoverded a suspected brothel operating in Castlerock in June 2008.

At the time, Murdoch was arrested and detained with two Malaysian women under the Sexual Offences Act after police searches in Coleraine and Castlerock. One of the women was later charged with running a brothel.

Murdoch was released without charge at the time, but a file was later forwarded to the PPS, and he now faces a charge of perverting the course of justice.

At a sitting of North Antrim Magistrates' Court last Wednesday a barrister acting for the PSNI made an application for an Anonymity Order, to protect a key witness in the case against Murdoch.

Court heard that, the witness, who was a serving police officer at the time, was working for the PSNI's Professional Standards Department.

The man, whose pseudonym is 'Barney Glass' was involved in a 'test purchase' operation linked to the undercover operation investigating the suspected brothel in Castlerock.

Mr Glass made two phone calls, acting as a member of the public, to Coleraine PSNI station on June 10, 2008. In the phonecalls. Mr Glass made a complaint about the brothel.

It is alleged that the information given by Mr Glass was not passed on by Murdoch to his superior officers. It is also alleged that Murdoch tipped off a third party involved in the running of the brothel.

Making the case for the Anonymity Order, a barrister for the PSNI said that the evidence of Barney Glass was 'central' to their case.

Detective Inspector Moore from the PSNI's Professional Standards Department told the court that the order was vital to protect the witness. He said that the witness had a 'strong personal connection' with the Triangle area.

Inspector Moore also told the court there were no specific threats to the witness, but that he had reported seeing the defendant a 'few times' since the operation.

He added that Mr Glass has said in his statement to police a that he would not testify unless his identity was protected.

The inspector said that he had spoken to Mr Glass the day before the court hearing and he had confirmed his position in relation to his identity being protected.

A barrister for Murdoch said that there was no evidence to suggest that his client posed any threat to Mr Glass, if his identity was revealed, however

District Judge, Richard Wilson agreed to the application and adjourned the matter until September 22.