'Trusted associate' of drug dealing operation is jailed

Image caption, The man was jailed when he appeared at Bishop Street courthouse on Monday

A man described in court as "a trusted associate" in a drug supply operation has been jailed for 14 months.

Stephen Mooney, of Forest Park in Londonderry, will spend the same amount of time on licence after he admitted having class B drugs with intent to supply in May 2023.

The 39-year-old also pleaded guilty to having criminal property totalling 拢45,000 in cash, on two dates in March and May 2023.

Londonderry Crown Court was told police observed a drug transfer where a courier brought cannabis and Mooney gave him money on 17 May 2023.

Police arrested both men at the scene and recovered drugs and 拢17,660 in cash.

In a separate incident, the court was told 拢29,355 in cash was found in a tool box in a vehicle driven by Mooney.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said Mooney was "a trusted associate" of a drug supplier and "played a significant role in the commercial supply of class B drugs".

He said Mooney had waived his right to a pre-sentence report as he realised that a custodial sentence was inevitable.