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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Four in court on cocaine charges | Four in court on cocaine charges |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 Niall McCartney, 27, from Springfield Meadows and Martin Short, 34, from Farringdon Court, Belfast. | They are Niall McCartney, 27, from Springfield Meadows and Martin Short, 34, from Farringdon Court, Belfast. |
| Also charged were Paul McLarnon, 23, of Grange Road, Toomebridge, and James Walsh, who is 27 and from Sperrin View in Magherafelt. | |
| A solicitor for Mr McLarnon and Mr Walsh said both denied the charges. | |
| All four were charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply on 8 September in north Belfast. | 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. | Mr Short was also charged with handling stolen goods, possessing and cultivating cannabis and possession of a rifle on 9 September. |
| 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. | 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' | '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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |