A recent shooting in which a man was critically in injured in Derry resulted in a man, charged with supplying heroin, being granted anonymity when he appeared at the city's Magistrates Court this morning.
The man, who cannot be named, appeared charged with possession of heroin, cocaine, cannabis resin and herbal cannabis and with intent to supply heroin and cocaine and being concerned in their supply.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place on Monday on this week.
The court heard the man's home, which was said to have been littered with needles, was searched and drugs and drug paraphernalia recovered.
The man's phone was also seized and contained numerous messages that appeared to relate to the sale of heroin.
The court was told the man had just injected heroin into his groin prior to his arrest and became unwell, shaking and sweating profusely, and had to be taken to hospital.
He was not interviewed by police as he had not been declared fit for interview.
District Judge Barney McElholm granted an anonymity order stating: 'I will make the anonymity order as there was a recent case of a very serious shooting.
'There is a general and continued threat within the city and I don't intend to offer any sort of succour to the thugs behind that threat.'
The man shot and crtically injured in the Creggan area of the city on 18 April had been due to appear in court on drug-related offences.
At the time, the city’s police commander, Superintendent Mark McEwan, said the “main focus” of the investigation was violent dissident paramilitary groupings.
Bail was refused to the man who appeared this morning for fear of further offences. He will appear back in court next month.
See tomorrow's Derry News for full report.
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