Northern Ireland

Cookstown hotel owner Michael McElhatton says police 'tried to blacken my name' over drug claims

Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton has been released on police bail
Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton has been released on police bail Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton has been released on police bail

AN assembly member last night criticised police after hotel owner Michael McElhatton was cleared of drug suspicions just hours after news was released of his arrest.

The owner of the Greenvale Hotel where three teenagers died after a crush outside a St Patrick's night disco on Sunday also accused police of blackening his name and insisted he has "nothing whatsoever to do with drugs".

The 52-year-old was first detained on Tuesday along with a 40-year-old man on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths of Lauren Bullock (17), Morgan Barnard (17) and Connor Currie (16), whose funerals will take place tomorrow.

In a dramatic chain of events, police announced shortly before 4pm yesterday that the 52-year-old had been "further arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply."

It came after detectives "conducted a search at a house in Moneymore and seized a quantity of suspected Class A drugs".

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Just two hours later, however, police issued another statement stating that Mr McElhatton had been "de-arrested" after fast-track forensic analysis of a "suspicious package consisting of a white-powder substance and tin foil" had ruled out the possibility of drugs.

It added: "The 52-year-old and the 40-year-old man remain in custody on suspicion of manslaughter."

In a statement, Mr McElhatton hit out at police and said he had to "make it completely clear" that he was not involved with drugs.

"I am shocked and horrified that the powdery substance taken by police from the laundry in my house could be drugs," he said.

"Despite there being no basis to these suspicions, they have blackened my name and caused so much upset for so many people especially those who are grieving and distressed over the events at the Greenvale Hotel.

"While I wished to respect the ongoing investigation by the police into the tragic deaths of the three young people at the Greenvale Hotel on St Patrick's night, I have no choice but to make it completely clear that I have nothing whatsoever to do with drugs.

"I can assure everyone that whatever any suspicions the police have raised about me in relation to anything to do with drugs is totally without any basis."

In a statement last night, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton defended the police actions.

"As a consequence of the arrest of a person on suspicion of manslaughter a search was carried out at the home of the suspect," he said.

"The search discovered a medium-size clear polythene bag containing an amount of a white powdery substance and pieces of tin foil.

"This discovery led to the suspicion that the substance was a Class A drug.

"In line with normal procedure the suspect was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. This arrest was communicated to the media in line with procedure.

"Given the gravity of the investigation the examination of the bag was carried out urgently.

"Once opened by the Forensic Science Agency for Northern Ireland the substance inside the bag was ascertained to be an innocent substance. The suspect was then de-arrested in respect of the drugs offence and a communication made to the media.

"The PSNI would like to make it clear that there is no suspicion of any crime relating to misuse of drugs on behalf of the person who still remains in custody.

"The actions taken were in good faith and in line with procedure.

"We will continue to carry out a rigorous investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these three young people and we are deeply grateful for the huge assistance we are receiving from the community and we hope that people will continue to come forward and assist us with this enquiry."

However, SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone last night said questions would be asked of the police investigation.

"Given the nature of this awful tragedy, the entire community demands the utmost ethical and professional standards in the investigation - this arrest for what turned out to be some usual household cleaning material displayed no standard and has shocked people," he said.

"Three children are dead, many are grieving, the PSNI must now step up to the plate and display professionalism as they rigorously conduct this investigation."