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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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Derry Magistrate's Court
A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court today said that anyone in the city taking the drug Pregablin was 'putting their life at risk' as there were 'extremely dangerous' tablets in circulation.
His comments came in the case of Christopher Martin Barker (43) of Drumlaheen Crescent in Derry who admitted a charge of possessing Pregablin on June 17 this year.
The court heard that police were alerted at 6am about an unconscious male lying close to the Guildhall Square.
They came across Barker who appeared to be sleeping but was 'hard to rouse'.
Police rolled him on to his back to aid breathing and found a strip of Pregablin on him.
Defence solicitor Keith Kyle said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had no recollection of the incident.
He said Barker did not dispute that the drugs were in his pocket and said he has to deal with his issues.
District Judge Barney McElholm everyone in the city should be aware of the dangers of taking Pregablin with the dangerous tablets in circulation.
He fined Barker £400 and ordered a destruction order for the drugs.
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