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Peru arrests: Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid due in court Peru arrests: Michaella McCollum's family in 'difficult' ordeal
(about 3 hours later)
Two women - one from Northern Ireland and one from Scotland - being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking are expected to appear in court later. The mother of a County Tyrone woman being held on suspicion of drug trafficking in Peru has said the family are going through a difficult ordeal.
Michaella McCollum, 20, from County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, 19, from East Dunbartonshire, were arrested trying to board a flight to Madrid a week ago. Nora McCollum's daughter, Michaella, 20, and Melissa Reid, 19, from Scotland, were arrested trying to board a flight to Madrid a week ago.
It is alleged police found £1.5m worth of cocaine in their luggage.It is alleged police found £1.5m worth of cocaine in their luggage.
On Tuesday, Ms McCollum's family said they were making arrangements to travel to Peru. The two are due to appear in court in Lima later on Wednesday, where they are expected to enter not guilty pleas.
Ms McCollum's family said they were making arrangements to travel to Peru.
Speaking at the family home in Dungannon, Ms McCollum's mother said: "At the moment we don't know anything. We don't know what is happening at all."
In a statement issued through their solicitors, the family said Michaella denied involvement in any criminal offence.In a statement issued through their solicitors, the family said Michaella denied involvement in any criminal offence.
Her mother, Nora McCollum, said her family was going through a difficult ordeal. BBC correspondent in Lima Will Grant said the pair would be brought in front of prosecutors on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old is originally from Dungannon while Ms Reid is from Lenzie. "They will be formerly charged with the attempted drug smuggling of £1.5m of cocaine from Lima to Europe," he said.
Michael Russell, Ireland's former honorary consul in Peru, has visited the women in prison. "But we also know that they have been protesting their innocence on those charges all the way through. They're expected to enter a not guilty plea."
"My goal is representing the Irish committee in Peru and the Irish Peruvian Chamber of Commerce to see if they needed anything and how we can assist them," he said. The Daily Mirror's Chris Bucktin, who spoke to the women in the police station where they are being held, said they told him they would be killed if they did not comply.
"They're in much better spirits than before and we understand that some family members may be coming." He told BBC Radio Ulster: "They were told in no uncertain terms that if they didn't carry out what was expected of them then they would be killed and also they had details of their families and their families would be in danger too," he said.
'Living nightmare' The National Police of Peru released a video of the women being questioned just after their arrest.
In it, Ms Reid answers basic questions - such as her name and nationality - then says she did not know what she was carrying.
She told her interviewer: "I was forced to take these bags in my luggage".
Ms Reid's family have also spoken of their shock at hearing of her detention. Her father, William Reid, said they are going through a "living nightmare" and have not slept since they found out.Ms Reid's family have also spoken of their shock at hearing of her detention. Her father, William Reid, said they are going through a "living nightmare" and have not slept since they found out.
He said there is "no way" his daughter would have gone along willingly with a plan to smuggle drugs.
The McCollum family statement said: "Michaella has been questioned by the police and has denied involvement in any criminal offence. She will be appearing before an examining judge shortly."
The two women have been visited in prison by an Irish-American bishop who is based in Peru.The two women have been visited in prison by an Irish-American bishop who is based in Peru.
Bishop Sean Walsh, of the Pentecostal Eastern Catholic Church, said the pair were being treated well.Bishop Sean Walsh, of the Pentecostal Eastern Catholic Church, said the pair were being treated well.
He said: "One of their chief concerns is about their own families. They allowed me to phone their families and I assured them that the girls are well."He said: "One of their chief concerns is about their own families. They allowed me to phone their families and I assured them that the girls are well."
The cleric added: "They are of course very concerned because they are facing prison time, but they are trying to mobilise their defence."The cleric added: "They are of course very concerned because they are facing prison time, but they are trying to mobilise their defence."
He said they had told him they were targeted by Colombian gangsters. The McCollum family's parish priest, Dean Colum Curry, said they were struggling to come to terms with their plight, but were trying to stay positive.
"They told me that there were a group of Colombians that actually took them at gunpoint and threatened them," he said.
He said the women told him they were held for a while by the gang before being taken to Morocco and back to Peru again.
"I don't know how that happened and I don't know how they got over to Peru," he said.
'Afraid'
Speaking at the family home in Dungannon on Tuesday, Ms McCollum's mother said: "At the moment we don't know anything. We don't know what is happening at all."
The McCollum family's parish priest, Dean Colum Curry, said they were struggling to come to terms with the plight but were trying to stay positive.
"It is just like a nightmare for them. They are at a loss as to what they can do," the priest said."It is just like a nightmare for them. They are at a loss as to what they can do," the priest said.
The two women were stopped last Tuesday as they tried to pass through the Air Europa counter at Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. They face lengthy prison sentences if found guilty.The two women were stopped last Tuesday as they tried to pass through the Air Europa counter at Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. They face lengthy prison sentences if found guilty.
The National Police of Peru have since released footage of the two women being questioned, shortly after the drugs were discovered inside food packages. Michaella McCollum had been studying photography in Belfast, but had gone to the Ibizan town of San Antonio in June, to look for work as a dancer or a nightclub hostess.
'Missing' After hearing nothing from her for 12 days, her family appealed on social media for any information on her whereabouts.
The 20-year-old had been studying photography in Belfast, but had gone to the Ibizan town of San Antonio in June, to look for work as a dancer or a nightclub hostess.
After hearing nothing from her for 12 days, her family appealed on Facebook and other social media websites for any information of her whereabouts.
'Emotional'
Ms Reid's father told reporters that his daughter is "bright, beautiful, bubbly and intelligent, just like her Facebook page shows".
He said he had a very brief phone conversation with his daughter and told her to be strong and not to get too emotional.
The family are being advised by the Foreign Office but Mr Reid said they are "not getting much information".
The 53-year-old said the family have no plans to go to Peru at the moment and fears going out could actually put his daughter in "greater danger".
Ms Reid's mother, Debra, said she had no idea her daughter had travelled to Peru, and she thought she was in Ibiza having a good time with her friends.
Both women have been visited by officials from the British embassy.Both women have been visited by officials from the British embassy.
Ms McCollum holds an Irish passport and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Ms McCollum's family.Ms McCollum holds an Irish passport and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Ms McCollum's family.