This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/5333624.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Four in court on cocaine charges Four in court on cocaine charges
(about 6 hours later)
Four men are due to appear at a Belfast court in connection with the seizure of £50,000 of cocaine. Four men have appeared at Belfast Magistrate's Court on charges connected to a weekend drugs raid in which £50,000 of cocaine was seized.
They are facing charges of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. They are Niall McCartney, 27, from Springfield Meadows and Martin Short, 34, from Farringdon Court, Belfast.
One man is also charged with handling stolen goods and possession of a firearm. Also charged were Paul McLarnon, 23, Grange Road, Toomebridge, and James Walsh, 27, Sperrin View, Magherafelt.
It is understood that the charges relate to an incident in north Belfast on Friday when police seized £50,000 of cocaine. All four were charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply on 8 September in north Belfast.
Mr Short was also charged with handling stolen goods, possessing and cultivating cannabis and possession of a rifle on 9 September.
A solicitor for Mr McLarnon and Mr Walsh said both men denied the charges.
The court was told the amount seized during last weekend's raid amounted to 770g which has an estimated street value of between £50,000 and £60,000.
'White powder'
A police constable revealed that when officers raided the house, a majority of the suspected cocaine had been hidden, but a small amount was found on the top of a freezer in the kitchen, along with a spoon covered in white powder and a plastic card.
When cross-examined by Mr McLarnon and Mr Walsh's solicitor, the constable confirmed both men provided a legitimate reason for being in the house - to discuss a dog sold by the occupier to Walsh.
Under questioning by Mr McCartney's solicitor, the constable confirmed the defendant had denied knowing about the drugs and the only evidence against him was his presence in the house when police arrived.
Mr Short was remanded in custody for four weeks, whilst the other three men were released on their own bail of £500 each to appear before the court on 9 October.