Man who has spent every Christmas for past 11 years in custody remanded

A man who has spent every Christmas for the past 11 years in custody has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates' Court. 

The man, who was granted anonymity due to the threat existing in the city, appeared charged with a series of drug offences including being concerned in the supply of class B and C drugs.

The charges were said to relate to dates between October 8 and December 3 this year.

The court was told that police were told of a curfew breach on December 1 by the defendant who is on bail on three separate charge sheets.

The defendant was arrested on December 3 and while in custody his bail conditions revealed he was not to delete anything from his phone.

Initially the defendant gave an inaccurate PIN number to police but corrected that after talking to his solicitor. 

A police officer told the court there was 'clear evidence' on the phone he was involved in drug supply. 

A search of the defendant's home uncovered a small quantity of B and C drugs and other paraphernalia. 

The court heard that the defendant made 'certain admissions' regarding the drugs and said he gad been finding it 'tight' for money.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of reoffending as the defendant has 75 previous convictions and the officer said that court conditions 'mean nothing'.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client had 'played ball with police'.

He said that the facts showed 'the reality of his existence and addiction issues'.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the defendant had been warned and 'clearly can't be trusted to keep any drug conditions.'

Bail was refused and the man was remanded in custody to appear again on December 23.