Magistrate's Court hears of three drug related deaths in Derry and Strabane in a matter of days

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today that there has been three drug related deaths in the city and Strabane area over the weekend.

The court was told this by a police officer during the case involving a 36-year-old woman who was granted anonymity when she appeared on three drug related matters. 

The woman was charged with possessing Pregablin and possessing the drugs with intent to supply on August 12.

She was also charged with being concerned in the supply of Pregablin on the same date. 

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

He told the court that police were called to an address where a 20-year-old male was in cardiac arrest. 

The court heard that unfortunately the male died. 

A 15 tablet blister pack of Pregablin was found on the deceased male with three tablets missing. 

A friend of the deceased was able to give police details of a female from whom they had bought the drugs. 

Police attended the defendant's address and found 76 Pregablin tablets and a sum of cash and the court heard that the tablets matched those found on the deceased.

The woman told police that she would give drugs to her friends and said she had bought this batch from her dealer last Wednesday. 

The woman denied knowing the deceased or his friend. 

A police officer opposed bail due to the risk of re-offending and also the possible interference with the course of justice. 

He told the court that the woman accepted this was a stronger batch of drugs so much so she had reduced her own intake from 15 a day down to 4.

He said as well as three deaths in the area over the weekend there had been five cardiac arrest all drug related. 

The officer said that as far as police could tell there were six blister packs of the drugs missing. 

Bail was also opposed to reduce the risk to the public health as these tablets were 'four times stronger' than normal. 

The officer added that there was a strong anti drug feeling in the community and the woman could be at risk from 'criminal elements'.

Defence solicitor Jack Quigley asked had his client been 'candid' with police and the officer said she had to a point but had refused to name her dealer.

The solicitor said his client accepted this incident was in 'a very, very serious context.'

He said the woman had 'freely and openly' provided police with the PIN number for her phone which could provide police 'with a treasure trove of information.'

He argued that the woman was a suitable case for bail. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that people were manufacturing new variants of drugs 'with grossly evil intent.'

He said that the message should go out that anyone involved in the supply chain, no matter how low on it, 'will be met with the full force of the law.'

Refusing bail Judge McElholm said that the application was 'premature' while police inquiries were still ongoing.

He remanded the woman in custody to appear again on September 7.