A HUSBAND and wife have faced Derry Magistrates’ Court today for a first remand hearing along with another man as part of a police investigation linked to a major cross border probe into organised crime.
The year-long investigation mounted by the PSNI’s Reactive and Organised Crime Branch in conjunction with An Garda Siochana in Donegal relates to assets worth in the region of £1 million and involved drugs, high value property, cars and jewellery which they believe were the results of organised crime.
In the dock today was Paatrick O’Connor, of Stoneypath in Derry.
The 47-year-old was charged with conspiracy to supply Class A cocaine and Class B cannabis with an estimated street value of £120,000.
O’Connor was also accused of possessing, concealing and converting criminal property including cash totalling £450,000.
The criminal property he is charged with relates to a Rolex watch and a large diamond ring.
His wife Misca O’Connor, 35, with the same address, was formally charged with possessing, concealing and converting criminal property relating to £456,000 in cash along with expensive watches and jewellery.
Some items of jewellery, which police described as “high value” have not yet been recovered, the court was told.
Derry Magistrates’ Court heard from an investigating detective that during 10 PACE tape recorded interviews at Strand Road police station following her arrest, she refused to comment on where the jewellery was being stashed.
Patrick O’Connor was described as the “principle member” of husband and wife crime gang. She was not charged with any drug offences.
Also facing the same remand court hearing was Mark Kelly.
The 42-year-old’s home address was banned by Judge Barney McElholm through an interim reporting restriction order.
Kelly was charged under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act with conspiracy to supply cannabis.
He was further accused of possessing, transferring, using and converting criminal property.
This related to £31,000 in cash and converting £29,250 of criminal property.
Patrick O’Connor and Mark Kelly were remanded in custody for four weeks to the remand unit at Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim.
They are due back at the same court on Thursday, July 20 when the judge will be updated on the progress of the prosecution file against them.
However, the pair are entitled to make an application in the meantime for High Court bail.
Misca O’Connor was released on bail to an address which cannot be reported due to the reporting restrictions put in place by the district judge.
She will appear back in the dock with her co-accused on the same date.
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