Derry judge grants anonymity to drug suspect

At Derry Magistrates Court today, District Judge Barney Mc Elholm granted anonymity to a man charged with a series of drug offences, including possessing ecstasy that was linked to the English batch which left 6 people in hospital.
The judge granted the order after being told that while there was no specific threat against the man there was a generalised threat.
He said the generalised threat is so high that he is not prepared to give these people one iota of assistance.
The 25-year-old faced a total of 15 charges including possessing ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis, possessing those drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of those drugs. All of the offences were alleged to have occurred on Tuesday of this week.
The man was released on his own bail of £2,000 with one surety of the same, ordered to observe a curfew, wear a tag, not to own or use a mobile phone and not to have any non prescribed drugs.
He will appear again next month.