Northern Ireland

Three men jailed for roles in supplying drugs

The three were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court
The three were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court The three were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court

THREE men who admitted their roles in supplying Class A and B drugs in south Belfast have been handed sentences totalling more than five years.

Matthew Baird (33), of Sandy Row, Belfast, was handed a 24 month sentence for masterminding the drug operation.

At Belfast Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying cocaine, LSD, cannabis, Ketamine and Viagra.

He further admitted possessing a stun gun and criminal property totalling £2,690.

Christopher Martin Clarke (31), of Sans Souci Gardens, Lisburn, and Gareth Keenan (42), of Tollgate House, Bradbury Place, Belfast were each handed 20 month sentences.

All three were told that they would spend half in custody with the remainder on supervised licence on release.

The court heard the men were arrested at Baird's flat by PSNI detectives investigating the supply of drugs in the south of the city.

Passing sentence, Judge Roseanne McCormick QC said: "There was some sophistication to this criminal enterprise and it was operated out of two premises rented by Mr Baird.

"However, although it was a relatively sophisticated operation, it was not the most sophisticated to come before the courts.''

The judge said that during the search, detectives found containers with "false bottoms which were being used to store the drugs''.

Judge McCormick said the supplying of the drugs was Baird's "operation'', adding that the role of Clarke and Keenan was was to act as "collectors and runners''.

The court heard that there was "no evidence of a high or lavish living out of this operation''.

The judge told Baird that his involvement in drugs had "escalated'' from possessing Class B drugs to Class A drugs and then up to distributing cocaine.

"You have now faced up to your offending and your abuse of substances. You have now retreated from the drug acquaintances you use to associate with in Belfast and now reside outside of Belfast."

As part of their licensing conditions, Judge McCormick said she endorsed a recommendation by the Probation Service that all three defendants avail of services to deal with their addictions.