A Derry man has been jailed for a month after admitting poisoning a prisoner officer while he was in jail awaiting sentencing for a spate of burglaries.

Bernard Cooke (21), from Lettershandoney, admitted spiking the soft drink of a female prison officer with mebeverine, an anti-spasmodic drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

Cooke was on remand at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in Belfast when he committed the offence on 21 May last year.

Belfast Crown Court heard the officer involved was off work for a total of 185 after suffering low blood pressure and a high heartbeat immediately after the incident.

The judge was told when interviewed, Cooke told police he thought he had given her a laxative, stating he had done it as a “joke”.

Cooke will serve the month when he finishes a sentence in May for a spate of burglaries in Derry in October, November and December 2012 when he broke into three Catholic churches and seven homes in the city.

Derry Courthouse.

A 31 year old Derry man was given a conditional discharge when he appeared at the local Magistrates Court charged with falsely claiming over £10,000 in benefits.

Mark Doherty, of Distillery Close in the city, claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £10,050 while failing to declare capital.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge.

At the same court, Joseph Stainsby (60), of Long Tower Court, in the city was given a suspended sentence for falsely claiming over £4,292 in benefits,

He claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit toalling £4,292 while failing to declare employment.

He was given a two month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £43.

Both men are required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

The trial of the man accused of killing eight people in one of Ireland’s most high-profile road crashes has been adjourned until Tuesday next to allow the accused to be psychologically assessed.

Accused: Shaun Kelly.

Shaun Kelly (24), of Hill Road, Ballymagan, Buncrana, is accused of causing the deaths of eight people almost four years ago.

Seven of the victims were travelling in a Volkwagen Passat being driven by Kelly when it was in collision with a Toyota car outside Clonmany on 11 July, 2010.

The case was due to get underway at Letterkenny Circuit Court today after being adjourned on several occasions.

However, both the defence and prosecution teams said they were not yet ready to press ahead with the case.

Both said they were currently awaiting reports including one from a psychologist from the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.

However, Judge Keenan Johnston said he was refusing to adjourn the matter out of the current sittings of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

He said it was grossly unfair to both the families of the deceased and the accused that the case was dragging on.

Barrister James O’Donnell said he was keeping a “watching brief” for the families involved in the case and said they were extremely anxious to get the matter resolved.

Judge Johnston said both he and his colleague Judge John O’Hagan had tried on several occasions to have the case heard.

“I am acutely aware that there are eight families grieving. Their lives are on hold and it is unfair that this is ongoing,” he said.

He said he was not prepared to adjourn the matter until the next sitting of the Circuit Court.

Letterkenny Courthouse.

Judge Johnston reassured the families that he will “do our level best to get the matter brought to trial as soon as possible.”

The men who died in the crash were Hugh Friel (66), Urris, Clonmany, Eamon McDaid (22) of Ballymagan, Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin, (21) of Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19), of Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney (19), of Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), of Meenaduff, Clonmany and Damien McLaughlin (21), of Umricam, Buncrana.

Letterkenny Courthouse.

Two women have appeared in court charged with setting fire to Donegal houses owned by the brother of Derry Eurovision Song Contest winner, Dana.

John Brown was not in Letterkenny Circuit Court for the appearance of Donna Kildea and  Stacey Doran, both from Newtowncunningham,

Kildea (29) is charged with arson at Colehill, Newtowncunningham on 29 August, 2011.

Doran (29) is accused of arson at a property on Main Street, Newtowncunningham on 15 Apri, 2011.

She is also charged with setting fire to a property at  Colehill, Newtowncunningham on 29 August, 2011.

Damage to the properties,  owned by John Brown, is estimated to be in the region of €120,000 to €150,000.

Judge Keenan Johnson remanded both women to appear again at Letterkenny Circuit Court on 16 July.

A Strabane woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for claiming benefits she was not entitled to.

Stephanie McCallion (36) of Olympic Drive,  claimed Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance totalling £7,562 while failing to declare employment.

She was given a three month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at the town’s Magistrates Court today.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Derry Courthouse.

A 39-year-old man is to stand trial charged with causing the death of a woman by careless driving  in Derry over two years ago.

Kevin Gormley, of Brookview Glen, Eglinton is charged with causing the death of Kathleen McLaren by driving without due care and attention at Rossville Street on 6 December 2012.

At a preliminary enquiry at Derry Magistrates Court today, Gormley replied “not at this stage” when asked did he wish make any statement or call witnesses.

He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Derry Crown Court on 30 April.



A Co Derry farmer has been given an absolute discharge for a polluting a waterway.

Michael McKenna, Brackaghreilly Road, Maghera, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £25 court costs at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.

The court heard that on 
3 March last year, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), inspected an unnamed tributary of the Black Burn at Five Mile Straight, Maghera and observed the waterway to be green in colour and a strong agricultural odour could be detected.

Approximately 1,000 metres of waterway was affected by the discharge.

The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by McKenna.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

McKenna was charged under Article 7 (1) (a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 with the offence of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

A Co Derry man has been given a suspended prison sentence for claiming over £17,000 benefits he was not entitled to.

Seamus Glasgow (58) of Leckagh Walk, Magherafelt claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £17,506 while failing to declare an income.

He was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £37 at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.

At the same court, Michael McNamara (40) of The Brambles, Magherafelt was given 160 hours community service, an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £36 for claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,379 while failing to declare employment.

In separate case, Nabia Evans (21), of Rockview Park, Moneymore was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £34 for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance totalling £53.

All three are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

A judge has said delays in the trial of a man accused of causing the death by dangerous driving of eight people in Inishowen almost four years ago were “simply not good enough.” 

Accused: Shaun Kelly.

Judge Keenan Johnson was speaking when Shaun Kelly (24) from Hill Road, Ballymaggan, Buncrana,  appeared before him today at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The case was adjourned last week to allow the DPP to identify a psychologist to carry out an assessment of him.

However, prosecuting counsel Patricia McLaughlin told Judge Johnson the psychologist identified by the DPP was no longer providing assessments for court.

She said the State had made extensive enquiries following last week’s adjournment.

Two experts at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin had been identified but the State had been unable to contact them despite phone calls and letters being sent.

Judge Johnson said the delay in finding an expert was “simply not good enough.”

He ordered the DPP to find an expert by Thursday.

The judge also said the expert should be in a position to carry out a psychological assessment “within seven to ten days” of this Thursday to allow a fitness to plea hearing to take place.

Judge Johnson said it “just beggars belief” that the case was continuing to “drag” on.

Ms McLaughlin said the State had only received medical reports from the defence before last week’s hearing.

She said she wanted to “apologise to the court” for the delays.

Judge Johnson adjourned the case until Thursday.

The men who died in the crash in Clonmany, Co Donegal, on 11 July, 2010 were: Hugh Friel (66), Urris, Clonmany, Eamon McDaid (22)of Ballymagan, Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin, (21) of Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19), of Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney (19), of Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), of Meenaduff, Clonmany and Damien McLaughlin (21), of Umricam, Buncrana.

From left, Damien Harkin, Jason Ceulemans and Neil Hegarty.

Three Derry men in their 40s will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to a number of offences including having a bomb in the city over a year ago.

Jason Ceulemans (42), from Lecky Road, Damien Harkin (48), of Westland Avenue and Neil Hegarty (49), from Sackville Court, admitted having an “explosively formed projectile-type improvised device” when they appeared Belfast Crown Court.

They also pleaded guilty to having two walkie talkies and a torch for a terrorist purpose on 6 December, 2012.

The device was found in the footwell of the rear passenger seat of the car they were travelling in when it was stopped by police at Westway in the Creggan area of the city.

Army technical officers confirmed it was viable and contained 200g of Semtex.

A previous court hearing was told the three accused did not intend using the device themselves, but there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction that their possession was on a “second limb” basis.

A prosecution lawyer said  in view of the guilty pleas, two other charges, one of conspiracy to cause an explosion and, secondly, of possessing it under suspicious circumstances, should be allowed to remain on the books.

All three were remanded in custody to appear again next month for sentencing.

Charged: Seamus Daly.

A man has been charged with the murders of 29 people killed in the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998.

Seamus Daly, from Culloville, County Monaghan, was arrested in Newry by detectives from the PSNI’s serious crime branch on Monday and taken to the serious crime suite at in Antrim for questioning.

As well as 29 murder charges, he also faces two charges in relation to the Omagh explosion and two charges in relation to an attempted explosion in Lisburn in April 1998.

The 43-year-old was one of four men ordered to pay more than £1.5 million in damages to the victims’ families in a civil case.

Daly has always denied any involvement in the bombing.

No-one has ever been convicted of carrying out the bombing in a criminal court.

Three schoolboys from Buncrana - Oran Doherty, James Barker and Sean McLaughlin – were killed in the explosion.

They had been a school trip on the day of the bombing.

Daly is due to appear at Dungannon Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

Charged: Seamus Daly.

A man accused of the murder of 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bomb has been remanded in custody – on the day his wife is due to give birth.

Seamus Daly (43) faced 29 counts of murder and two charges linked to the explosion in Omagh when he appeared Dungannon Magistrates’ Court this morning.

The victims included a woman who was pregnant with twins.

Three primary school children from Buncrana, Oran Doherty, James Barker and Sean McLaughlin who were on a school trip to the Co Tyrone town on the day of the bombing, were among those killed in the atrocity.

Daly, originally from Culloville in County Monaghan, also faced two charges related to an attempted bomb attack in Lisburn, County Antrim, that took place in the same year as the Omagh bomb.

Defence barrister Dermot Fee told the court the evidence against Daly was  ”very weak.”

Applying for bail, Mr Fee said Daly had an address in Jonesborough and had lived in Northern Ireland for two years and had made no attempt to conceal his identity during that time.

He said Daly’s wife, family and his “whole life” were located in the North.

A PSNI detective inspector told the court he could connect Daly to a total of 33 charges, including the murder of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh, on the basis of telephone evidence, witnesses and forensic evidence.

Objecting to bail, he said there was a risk of Daly leaving the jurisdiction and interfering with witnesses.

Daly was remanded in custody to appear via video link at Omagh Magistrates Court on 6 May next.

Daly was arrested in the car park of the Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry on Monday where his due to have a baby  today (Friday).Seamus Daly has been connected to the bombing of Omagh before.

He was taken to the PSNI’s serious crime suite in Antrim for questioning before being charged yesterday and brought to court this morning.

A 32-year-old man arrested in the Ebrington Terrace area of Derry on 11 March last has been charged with burglary and will appear at the city’s Magistrates Court next month.

Meanwhile, police in the Waterside area of Derry are once again appealing for car owners not to leave valuables in their vehicles at night.

The warning follows a spate of incidents in the Caw Hill, Bayswater, Rosslyn Close, Rosswater and Clearwater areas on Thursday night and Friday morning last.

In many of the incidents, thieves gained access to unlocked cars and garages.

A PSNI spokesperson asked Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the police non-emergency number, 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A Limavady man was given a conditional discharge when he appeared at the town’s Magistrates Court today charged with claiming  benefits he was not entitled to.

Albert Griffin (58), of Irish Green Street, claimed Disability Living Allowance (DLA) totalling £2,647 while failing to notify an improvement in his condition in relation to his disability.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

He will also have to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Derry Courthouse.

A 32-year-old Derry man was given a conditional discharge at Derry Magistrates Court day for claiming benefits he was not entitled to.

Sean Jackson, of Bawnmore Place, Strathfoyle claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £3,497 while failing to declare employment.

He was given a conditional discharge for two years and fined £50.

He will also have to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

A 78-year-old Derry man in due to appear at the city’s Magistrates Court today charged with attempted voyeurism.

The man, from the cityside, faces three charges of attempting to observe another person doing a private act on 8 December last year for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

Derry Courthouse.

A Derry pensioner has appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court charged with attempted voyeurism.

John Doherty (78), of Belmont Crescent off the Culmore Road, faced three counts of attempting to observe another person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

The offences are alleged to have occurred on 8 December last.

He was remanded on bail to appear at Derry Magistrates Court on 8 May next.

A Derry man has appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court charged with raping his partner.

The 57-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim, faced two charges of rape which are alleged to have occurred between 4 and 5 September last year.

A prosecuting lawyer told the court the accused was in a relationship with the alleged victim who was described as a “vulnerable witness.”

A PSNI officer told the court he could connect the accused to the charges.

Releasing the accused on bail to appear in court again on 12 June next, Resident Magistrate Barney McElholm ordered him not to make contact with the alleged injured party and told him not to enter the street where she lived.

Derry Courthouse.

A 30-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

John Christopher Temple, of Maureen Avenue in the city, is charged with being in possession a computer with internet capacity in a domestic setting, an act he was prohibited from performing under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act.

The offence is alleged to have occurred at Maureen Avenue on 2 February this year.

Temple was released on bail to appear in court again on 29 May next.

Two Derry men have appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court charged with drug offences.

Thomas Kelly (26), of Knockena, Buncrana Road in the city, is charged with being concerned in the supply of the class B drug Mephedrone.

He is also charged with being in possession of the drug with intent to supply.

He faces a further charge of obstructing police.

Sean Paul Green (19), of Lowry’s Lane, is charged with being concerned in the supply of Mephedrone.

He is also charged with dangerous driving in William Street in Derry.

All the offences are alleged to have occurred on Monday last.

Both accused were released on £500 bail each and ordered to be electronically tagged

They were each told by Resident Magistrate Barney McElholm to report to police three times a week, not to be in a private motor vehicle unless in the company of a family member, not to contact each other, banned from having mobile phones, not to have substances other than prescribed by a medical practitioner and to adhere to an 8.00pm to 8.00am curfew.

Both are due back in court again on 12 June next.