Tears in court as six men remanded over drugs haul

The six were described as members of an organised crime gang after police seized 90,000 ecstasy tablets - the largest haul in Northern Ireland in the last three years - and one kilogramme of amphetamines.

Appearing at North Antrim Magistrates' Court yesterday (Monday) were 20-year-old Daniel Morrow of the Promenade in Portstewart; 19-year-old Liam Fergal McManus of Enterprise Parade in Portstewart, 26-year-old Shaun Paul McManus also of Enterprise Parade, 20-year-old James Desmond Platt of Coleraine Road in Portrush, 23-year-old Matthew John McGookin of the Promenade in Portstewart and 21-year-old Ruairi McGlade of Enterprise Parade in Portstewart.

They were all charged with six offences - unlawful possession of a Class A drug namely Ecstasy on October 15; possession of Ecstasy with intent to supply; conspiracy to supply a Class A drug, namely Ecstasy; unlawful possession of a Class B drug, namely amphetamines (speed); possession of a Class B drug namely amphetamine (speed) with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug namely amphetamine (speed).

A representative for the Public Prosecution Service said that bail was objected to and asked Detective Sergeant McDonald of the PSNI Organised Crime Branch to outline the objections.

The officer told the court that police from the Organised Crime Branch had been operating an "intelligence lead" investigation into a gang which was involved in the supply of drugs.

He told the court that all six defendants were arrested at a flat on the Promenade in Portstewart on Friday, October 15.

He said that large quantities of drugs were found in a follow-up search and that ecstasy found in a search of another address was the same as that found in the flat which had been previously searched.

The officer told the court that the investigation was at an early stage. He said there was evidence that drugs had been stored at the address and said that the six young men had been "deliberately recruited because of their lack of previous convictions".

He said that police were worried that if the defendants were given bail that they would fail to return to court. He also said there were fears that they would interfere with witnesses and that they would be likely to reoffend in order to "recoup the losses" suffered by the criminal gang as a result of the police operation.

Defending McGookin and Platt, solicitor Francis Rafferty challenged the police officer's reasons for objecting to bail, asking where the substantive evidence was to suggest that his clients were likely to abscond or to reoffend?

He said that his clients came from respectable, middle class families and had good educational and employment histories and added it was "nonsensical" that they were likely to be "inveigled" into activity to "make good what has been lost profit-wise".

However Detective Sgt McDonald said: "It is clear that these young men have very little criminal history but they have been brought into a network of criminals and are trusted sufficiently to be storing large amounts of drugs."

Mr Rafferty then questioned the detective about the addresses where the drugs had been found and said that the defendant McGookin had been there only a matter of weeks as he was sub-letting a room.

He also stressed that Mr McGookin had left school with nine O levels and was working now as a community youth worker and drugs and alcohol co-ordinator.

Referring to the defendant Platt, Mr Rafferty asked was he a tenant of the premises? "No" answered the detective but added that he was a "regular visitor".

"There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" asked Mr Rafferty.

Mr Rafferty also pointed out that Platt was well educated, employed and had no criminal record and that nothing had been found in his possession. The detective confirmed this.

Solicitor Garrett Green, representing Shaun Paul and Liam McManus, said that he would not be seeking bail for Shaun Paul McManus.

Mr Green said it was a "paradox" that the very reason the detective was giving for objecting to bail for Liam McManus was the very reason he should be given bail - the fact that he had no previous convictions which was what made the defendants "desirable" to the criminal gang.

"It is unlikely that they will suddenly be asked to engage in further activity when they are now on the police radar and when police will be carrying out daily bail checks if they are released on bail," said Mr Green.

"There is no rationale in his history to suggest that he would fail bail conditions," he added.

Mr Green said that realistically it could take 12 to eighteen months for the case to come to fruition and objected to his client being in custody especially when "he has a clean background and comes from a good family".

Solicitor David Brewster appeared on behalf of Morrow and asked the police officer to confirm that Morrow's girlfriend had been allowed to see him while he was in custody at the police station.

The detective confirmed this and said that Morrow had admitted storing drugs on previous occasions.

"Well that flies in the face of your concerns about contact with witnesses, doesn't it?" replied Mr Brewster.

Mr Brewster said that his client had co-operated fully with police and had been acting under duress and was fearful of other individuals concerned.

"He is completely terrified by what has happened and his family are horrified by this," said Mr Brewster.

A PPS representative said that the six men faced very serious charges and said the drugs haul was a "significant operation".

District Judge Richard Wilson said that it was a very serious case and outlined the three grounds for objecting to bail - fear of the defendants not returning to court, fear of further commissions to recoup losses and interference with witnesses.

"I don't regard the first point as substantial as bail conditions would cover that," said Mr Wilson.

"They all come from families who have a significant stake in the community."

"However I don't think it's fanciful to fear further commission. It is a realistic fear and the interference with witnesses is a real concern."

Bail was refused and he remanded all six in custody to appear via videolink on November 15.

Defence solicitor Mr Moriarty, representing Ruairi McGlade, told the court that he would be making a submission later in the day.

A number of the defendants broke down in tears when they were remanded in custody and a number of family members in the public gallery were visibly distressed.