Breaking news: Five in court after drug raids in Letterkenny

Three members of the same family were among five people who appeared at court on Wednesday charged with drug dealing in Letterkenny.

The five were arrested on Tuesday as Gardai carried out a series raids as part of a clampdown on drug activity in the town.

Uniformed Gardai and detectives were part of the raids, carried out as part of Operation Tara, a Garda operation aimed at clamping down on illegal drug activity.

A number of mobile phones and documents were seized and officers also seized a small amount of cash.

Five persons were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at different Garda stations in Donegal.

Three women and two men were subsequently hauled before Judge Brendan O'Reilly at Wednesday's sitting of Letterkenny District Court.

The five who appeared were: Priscilla Connors of Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny; Michael Connors of Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny; Noreen Connors of Ballymacool Woods, Letterkenny; Susan Orr of Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny; and Martin McCarthy of Castleshanaghan, Letterkenny.

All five were granted bail to appear again for directions in their cases from the Director of Public Prosecutions at Letterkenny District Court on December 19th.

They were each charged under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act for having possession of drugs for sale or supply.

They are aged between their late teens and early 40s and all are charged with dealing various drugs including cocaine and ecstasy.

Gardai agreed to bail but sought to impose curfews on all the accused.

However, solicitor for all five, Mr Rory O'Brien, suggested to Judge O'Reilly that this was excessive as a curfew appeared to be 'disproportionate to the allegations'.

Judge O'Reilly asked Garda Sergeant Jim Collins what the quantities of drugs seized were and was told they were between €100 and €500.

The Judge said he was granting bail in all cases but wanted various independent cash sureties from all accused.

All five had to surrender their passports and must now sign on three times a week at Letterkenny Garda station, be of good behaviour, provide a mobile phone number to Gardai and to remain at the addresses given in court.

Another man, David Orr also of Ballymacool Wood, appeared in court on Tuesday where he was charged in connection with the same raids.

The 18 year old appeared at Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday charged under Section 15 of the misuse of Drugs Act for having cocaine for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it.

Orr, represented by solicitor Mr Michael Shiel, was also granted bail and is due to appear again on December 19.