Court hears four possible drug related deaths in Derry/Londonderry may be linked to bad batch of illegal narcotics

By Q Radio news

A court has heard there've been four possible drug overdose deaths in Derry/Londonderry in as many weeks possibly from a bad batch of illegal narcotics.

The claim was made by a police officer at the local magistrates court where 26 year old Dillon Jordan Quigley from Clon Dara in the city was appearing on a series of drug offences.

The comments came in the case against Dillon Jordan Quigley (26) of Clon Dara in Derry who appeared charged with a series of drug offences including being concerned in the supply of class A, B and C drugs on various dates.

Opposing bail for fear of further offences the officer said that one of those who died was Quigley's former partner and phone messages suggested that he had supplied her in the past with drugs.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had received a major shock with the death of his former partner last week.

He said there 'clearly was a bad batch of drugs in the city' and this had led to the death of four people.

The solicitor said Quigley was involved in 'low level dealing' and there were no trappings of wealth in his lifestyle but added that if remanded in custody he could lose his accommodation.

The police officer then said he wanted to tell the court that while Quigley may be shocked about the death of his former partner he had been involved in drugs on Saturday following the death.

He said on a previous occasion when charged with possessing Diazepam Quigley had said to police 'I told you I was going to stop taking them I didn't say I was going to stop selling them.'

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said that Quigley was not a suitable case for bail and refused the application and adjourned the case until July 22.

He also sentenced Quigley to one month in prison for possessing cannabis on May 22 this year.

(The magistrates court in Derry/Londonderry)