Two men refused bail on charges linked to a Europe-wide probe into organised crime

By Paul Higgins

Two men appeared in court today facing a raft of charges arising from Europe wide investigation into organised crime.

Jeffrey McClean (44) and 42-year-old Darran McConville initially appeared together at Newry Magistrates Court but they were separated after prosecuting counsel Robin Steer said they were not co-accused.

McConville, from confirmed that he understood the eight charges against him - conspiring to murder “persons unknown,” conspiring to import cannabis, being concerned in the supply of the class B drug and class A cocaine, conspiring to possessing cannabis and cocaine, entering an arrangement to acquire criminal property and conspiring to cultivate cannabis at his home address at Market Street Court in Tandragee, all alleged to have been committed between 25 March and 15 June this year.

McClean, from the Hawthorns in Portadown, was charged with six offences, allegedly committed between the same dates, including offering to supply cannabis and cocaine, conspiring to import cannabis, conspiracies to possess firearms and prohibited weapons, namely tasers and attempting to acquire tasers.

Giving evidence to the court, Detective Constable Dillon said she believed she could connect both men to their respective charges while Mr Steer outlined how the pair were arrested and charged after the PSNI, working in tandem with the NCA, obtained previously hidden data from encrypted handsets.

In general terms, he claimed that messages and images obtained by investigators suggested that both men were involved in the international transportation of drugs.

Taking McClean first, the lawyer revealed that amongst the received messages there were discussions where McClean allegedly asked about how much a Glock pistol would cost, instructing the person he messaged to “get him a .38” and there was also evidence that he had tried to use the dark web to obtain a taser.

He said there were other messages which referred to the “transportation of drugs and money through NI and the Republic of Ireland,” adding that while police do not have the actual handset involved, that believe he can be connected to the data which has been retrieved through the content of the messages including an image matching his kitchen counter and references to his wife and her impending birthday.

Turning to McConville, Mr Steer described again how there was a “large number of messages about drugs, arranging lorry drivers and haulage companies to move drugs” with references to deliveries between the Netherlands and RoI.

The allegations relating to the murder conspiracy, the lawyer said there was a “general conversation about killing someone called McCann” but that it then “becomes more specific” with an exchange of messages asking “how much it would cost to kill people.”

Addressing specific objections to bail, Mr Steer said there were concerns that if released the defendants would commit further offences given the nature of the offences and revealing that both have previous convictions for drug offences.

Defence solicitor Gabriel Ingram, who appeared for both men, submitted that facing delays which could amount to years “given current conditions” and the expanse of the investigation, that both men could be freed “albeit under stringent conditions.”

Both men, he told the court, were married with children and displayed “no trappings of wealth” which spoken usually be associated with significant drug dealing.

Deputy District Judge Laura Levers said she was refusing bail for both men due to the risk of further offences.

McConville was remanded to 29 September and McClean to 25 September.