Derry judge says until threat against suspected drug dealers is lifted, anonymity orders will be granted

A Derry judge has said that until he is informed that the threat against suspected drug dealers is lifted he will continue to grant anonymity. 

District Judge Barney McElhom was speaking at Derry Magistrate’s Court as a 40-year-old woman appeared on a series of drug charges as was granted anonymity. 

The woman is charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply on November 18 this year. 

She also faced five charges of possessing a variety of drugs on the same date. 

A police officer connected the woman to the charges and opposed bail. 

He told the court that police were searching an address in connection with a drugs case when the defendant arrived at the door. 

Police suspected that she was involved in the supply of drugs in the city and searched her. 

A quantity of drugs was allegedly found in her handbag and other drug paraphernalia such as needles. 

She was detained and taken to the Waterside PSNI station where she had to receive what the officer described as ‘life saving drugs’ on four occasions before being taken to hospital. 

Another two wraps of cocaine were also said to have been found which police believe may have ‘been concealed in her.’

The woman was eventually hospitalised and was detained there for 18 hours before being returned to custody. 

Bail was opposed as the officer said there was a risk of re-offending as he believed the woman ‘takes all sorts of drugs’ on a daily basis. 

He said if the woman had not been arrested when she was there could have been a different outcome. 

The officer said if the woman was released she could very easily be found dead. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott accepted his client was ‘in a terrible condition’ when she was arrested and was so bad she called at a house while the police were actually searching it. 

He said that his client needed help more than anything else. 

Judge McElholm said that it may well be that the intent to supply charge may not be proceeded with but the problem was that if someone’s name was ‘out there as a drug dealer’ there could be consequences. 

He said that if released the woman could go on a drugs binge and said the application was ‘premature’. 

He remanded the woman in custody to appear again on November 22 for sentencing on another matter.