Northern Ireland

Daughter of drug feud murder victim Mark Lovell to be freed to attend funeral

Murder victim Mark Lovell
Murder victim Mark Lovell Murder victim Mark Lovell

THE daughter of drug feud murder victim Mark Lovell is to be freed to attend her father’s wake and funeral, a judge has ordered.

Newry Magistrates Court heard that despite knowing there are threats against her and her family, and also that the address put forward for compassionate bail “is known by other parties", Whitney Hughes wanted to be temporarily freed to allow her to attend the wake and funeral of Mark Lovell.

Her 58-year-old father was shot at close range inside his car near his home in Ardcarn Park in Newry on December 1.

Hughes, from Ardcarn Park, is in custody facing 14 counts including 12 drug charges relating to possessing, supplying and intending to supply heroin, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine and two further charges relating to possessing criminal cash and trading in counterfeit football clothing.

Previous courts have heard claims that police believe she “plays a small part in a larger organised crime gang” in charges which arise as a result of officers raiding a locked storage container on the Mountain Road in the city where they uncovered the “full spectrum” of drugs.

Police previously told the court that a “member of a rival faction” had warned the defendant's mother that Hughes should stay out of Newry, describing how “two males went to her mother's house and told her not to come back to Newry again.

"Her father’s house was attacked in a shooting in Dundalk in October, killing his dog and striking him. We believe that there’s an ongoing feud in Newry and south Armagh for the supply of drugs and releasing her into that, to an address that’s been identified by a rival faction is a risk that we cannot manage,” an officer submitted.

He repeated those fears on Wednesday, outlining how police are concerned that if Hughes is freed, even temporarily, it would give rise to the risk of further offences.

He submitted that with the perceived risks “I’m not sure how we can manage that”.

Defence solicitor Chris Logue said Hughes and her family are “well aware and they wish to pursue the application".

Granting compassionate bail to Hughes for the weekend, judge Eamon King ordered that Hughes’ mother signs a surety in the sum of £10,000 and that a separate £500 cash surety is lodged with the court.

The case was also adjourned to December 21.

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested by police investigating the murder of Mark Lovell. The pair, aged 45 and 40, were arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

The arrests followed searches of properties in the Newry area on Wednesday morning.