Derry 'drug lord' among 12 sentenced for cocaine and cannabis offences

A Derry “drug lord" has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Declan Gallagher (34) appeared before Derry Crown Court with 11 co-accused charged with drugs offences between September 2013 and august 2014.

All 12 pleaded guilty to the offences which concerned the possession and supply of cannabis and cocaine.

The court was told the case centred on six drugs seizures during the 11 month period.

Passing sentence Judge Philip Babington said "all of the defendants weren't known to each other but they were all known to Declan Gallagher."

The co-accused with addresses in Derry, Belfast and greater Manchester were Declan Palmer 34, Michael Rainey, 50, Philip Colville, 44, Edward Cameron, 56, Raymond Hamilton, 32, Benjamin Harding, 25, Scott Sotheron, 42, Ryan Radcliffe, 26, Peter Joseph Gallagher, 45, Louise Gallagher, 46 and Patrick Ward, 50.

Palmer, who was described in court as “heavily involved,” was given three and a half years in custody.

Rainey, Cameron, Coville, Hamilton, Harding, Ratcliffe and Sotheron were jailed for one and half years.

Peter and Louise Gallagher, the siblings of Declan Gallagher, were sentenced to 18 months suspended for three years and 12 months suspended for three years respectively.

Ward was given 12 months in custody suspended for two years.