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23/11/2007
Not Guilty Pleas In £18m Drug Trial
One of the men arrested when police seized the largest drugs haul ever made in Northern Ireland, has denied any involvement in the multi-million-pound drugs smuggling operation.
Martin Kerfoot (40), from Seacliff Road in Bangor, has pleaded not guilty to the importation of 3.5 tonnes of cannabis, said to have had a street value of £18m.
Downpatrick Crown Court heard yesterday that Kerfoot is also pleading not guilty to charges of supplying cannabis to another person and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Alongside the accused was Stephen James McGivern (32), from Oak Crescent in Sunderland, who similarly pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Both the defendants were arrested in October last year after police seized the cannabis resin from a warehouse on the Quarry Heights industrial estate at Newtownards.
When they were charged last year a court was told that both of the defendants were arrested at the premises and taken to Newtownards custody suite for interview.
The drugs were allegedly found in a removal firm lorry packed with wooden doors and some were also discovered in a hire lorry.
Judge Peter Gibson remanded McGivern in custody while Kerfoot was released on continuing bail. He runs a firm which delivers furniture to locations in the UK and Europe.
(BMcC)
Martin Kerfoot (40), from Seacliff Road in Bangor, has pleaded not guilty to the importation of 3.5 tonnes of cannabis, said to have had a street value of £18m.
Downpatrick Crown Court heard yesterday that Kerfoot is also pleading not guilty to charges of supplying cannabis to another person and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Alongside the accused was Stephen James McGivern (32), from Oak Crescent in Sunderland, who similarly pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Both the defendants were arrested in October last year after police seized the cannabis resin from a warehouse on the Quarry Heights industrial estate at Newtownards.
When they were charged last year a court was told that both of the defendants were arrested at the premises and taken to Newtownards custody suite for interview.
The drugs were allegedly found in a removal firm lorry packed with wooden doors and some were also discovered in a hire lorry.
Judge Peter Gibson remanded McGivern in custody while Kerfoot was released on continuing bail. He runs a firm which delivers furniture to locations in the UK and Europe.
(BMcC)
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