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15/08/2013
Michaella McCollum's Solicitor Flies To Peru
The solicitor of Michaella McCollum, a 20-year-old Dungannon woman currently being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking, is to fly to Lima to advise her.
The 20-year-old County Tyrone native was arrested last week at Jorge Chavez International Airport as she tried to board a flight to Madrid with 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Scotland.
Airport staff allegedly found 11kg of cocaine worth £1.5m in their luggage.
Solicitor Peter Madden of Madden & Finucane was due to fly to South America from Belfast on Thursday.
The women claim they were smuggling the drugs to save both their and their families' lives from a South American gang who threatened them at gunpoint.
They say it began when they were approached separately by a man with an English accent in Ibiza, where the two women had been working over the summer.
Miss Reid told the Daily Mirror: "We were given no option. If we didn't do as we were told we would be dead.
"We have no doubt they would have killed us both without hesitation if we didn't do as we were told."
In an interview with the Mirror, Miss McCollum Connolly and Miss Reid told a journalist the gang had taken their passports and mobile phones and ordered them to carry luggage onto the plane.
They claim they had never met before they were kidnapped and taken to a house owned by a drug gang in Majorca.
The Daily Mirror's editor Chris Bucktin interviewed the women.
He said: "They admit that they have cried themselves several times.
"They are in two separate cells. Melissa is sharing with another girl and Michaella is by herself. There is nothing in those cells, they actually sleep on fibreglass beds."
Peter Madden, of Madden & Finucane, is representing the family of Ms McCollum-Connolly.
They women have been told they could face a three-year wait before their trial is even heard.
(IT/CD)
The 20-year-old County Tyrone native was arrested last week at Jorge Chavez International Airport as she tried to board a flight to Madrid with 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Scotland.
Airport staff allegedly found 11kg of cocaine worth £1.5m in their luggage.
Solicitor Peter Madden of Madden & Finucane was due to fly to South America from Belfast on Thursday.
The women claim they were smuggling the drugs to save both their and their families' lives from a South American gang who threatened them at gunpoint.
They say it began when they were approached separately by a man with an English accent in Ibiza, where the two women had been working over the summer.
Miss Reid told the Daily Mirror: "We were given no option. If we didn't do as we were told we would be dead.
"We have no doubt they would have killed us both without hesitation if we didn't do as we were told."
In an interview with the Mirror, Miss McCollum Connolly and Miss Reid told a journalist the gang had taken their passports and mobile phones and ordered them to carry luggage onto the plane.
They claim they had never met before they were kidnapped and taken to a house owned by a drug gang in Majorca.
The Daily Mirror's editor Chris Bucktin interviewed the women.
He said: "They admit that they have cried themselves several times.
"They are in two separate cells. Melissa is sharing with another girl and Michaella is by herself. There is nothing in those cells, they actually sleep on fibreglass beds."
Peter Madden, of Madden & Finucane, is representing the family of Ms McCollum-Connolly.
They women have been told they could face a three-year wait before their trial is even heard.
(IT/CD)
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14 August 2013
Peru Suspects In Kidnap Claim
A woman from Dungannon, County Tyrone and a woman from Scotland currently facing drugs smuggling charges in Peru have claimed they were forced at gunpoint to carry £1.5m of cocaine in their luggage. 20-year-old Michaella McCollum Connolly and 19-year-old Melissa Reid were arrested last week before boarding a plane from Lima to Spain.
Peru Suspects In Kidnap Claim
A woman from Dungannon, County Tyrone and a woman from Scotland currently facing drugs smuggling charges in Peru have claimed they were forced at gunpoint to carry £1.5m of cocaine in their luggage. 20-year-old Michaella McCollum Connolly and 19-year-old Melissa Reid were arrested last week before boarding a plane from Lima to Spain.
16 May 2018
Drug Mule Michaella McCollum Gives Birth To Twins
Drug mule Michaella McCollum has given birth to twins. She revealed the news via a social media post on Tuesday, 15 May. McCollum posted a video on Instagram with her two newborns with the caption: "My little darlings, 1 week today (sic)." It is not yet known who the father is.
Drug Mule Michaella McCollum Gives Birth To Twins
Drug mule Michaella McCollum has given birth to twins. She revealed the news via a social media post on Tuesday, 15 May. McCollum posted a video on Instagram with her two newborns with the caption: "My little darlings, 1 week today (sic)." It is not yet known who the father is.
22 August 2013
Peru Drug Suspects Refused Bail
Two women being held in Peru on charges of drug smuggling have been refused bail and remanded in custody to await trial. Michaela McCollum, from Dungannon in County Tyrone and Melissa Reid, from near Glasgow, have been told they face a maximum sentence of 15 years if convicted. The women have been accused of attempting to smuggle £1.
Peru Drug Suspects Refused Bail
Two women being held in Peru on charges of drug smuggling have been refused bail and remanded in custody to await trial. Michaela McCollum, from Dungannon in County Tyrone and Melissa Reid, from near Glasgow, have been told they face a maximum sentence of 15 years if convicted. The women have been accused of attempting to smuggle £1.
19 August 2013
Peru Drugs Case Handed To State Prosecutor
Peruvian police are expected to hand the investigation into alleged drug smuggling by two British women to the state prosecutor's office later, to allow formal charges to be made.
Peru Drugs Case Handed To State Prosecutor
Peruvian police are expected to hand the investigation into alleged drug smuggling by two British women to the state prosecutor's office later, to allow formal charges to be made.
06 August 2014
Michaella McCollum Returns To NI
Two women convicted of drug smuggling in Peru last summer are to return home to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK.
Michaella McCollum Returns To NI
Two women convicted of drug smuggling in Peru last summer are to return home to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
