A man who attended a Derry Court in support of his murdered friend, Karol Kelly, has been accused of doing so while under the influence and in possession of cocaine
Joseph McCallion, 22, of Glenowen Park, was wanted by police when he appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court as a spectator on March 7.
He has been charged with possessing class A drug cocaine on March 7 and being concerned in the supply of the same drug between January 6 – 26 of this year.
A police officer said the defendant was at court ‘as a spectator’ on March 7 in relation to ‘a high-profile case’. Police spotted him and realised he ‘was wanted for arrest in relation to an assault’ and ‘suspected involvement in the supply of cocaine’.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and his mobile phone seized. At Strand Road Police Station officers found cocaine in his coat pocket and he was further arrested.
Attempts were made to access the phone after the defendant refused to provide the PIN. After numerous failed attempts, the device was blocked until March 20 meaning police can’t access it until then ‘even with a code’.
McCallion’s name and details ‘featured on another person’s phone in relation to drugs supply’, the officer said. Messages found on the defendant’s phone were said to have offered ‘rockin’ C folks’ which police believe to be cocaine.
The 22-year-old said his address was in Manorwood but when checked by police the landlord confirmed that he had been ‘thrown out’ – he had since been ‘sofa hopping between friend’s houses’.
The court heard the defendant tried to pass on a message for his mother to ‘contact the boys’ to tell them to dump their phones. The PSNI ‘strongly objected to bail’ believing the defendant was withholding information about people who have committed offences related to the ‘drug trafficking trade’.
McCallion informed a doctor at the police station that he had taken cocaine, and the officer said, he ‘was on it yesterday in the courthouse’. Further objections concerned interference with an ongoing investigation, admitted possession of drugs, and a ‘no comment’ interview regarding supply.
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