Inspector Roy Robinson pictured with the cannabis haul in November 2014
A MAN was escorted back to Fermanagh from England last week after being arrested on foot of a warrant for his alleged role in running a cannabis factory in Bellanaleck two years ago.
John Ryan (32), of no fixed abode, is charged in connection with the £70,000 haul that was discovered at a house in on the Derrylin Road, Derryhawlagh in 2014. He faces charges of cultivating cannabis, dishonestly using electricity by causing it to be diverted, possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and possession of cannabis.
Ryan was brought before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Wednesday after he had handed himself into the Metropolitan Police in London regarding an unrelated matter. The court was told Ryan had been unaware there was a warrant out for his arrest in this jurisdiction as he was not aware he faced charges in relation to the Fermanagh cannabis find.
The court heard that on November 11, 2014 police searched the property on the Derrylin Road on foot of two warrants and found cannabis plants worth an estimated £70,000 in a bedroom wrapped with black plastic, along with various other paraphernalia associated with the cultivation of the drug, such as fans, lights and water equipment.
Police also found a magnet on electricity metre of the house, which was rented to Danny Sexton, Ryan’s co-accused.
Upon examination, both Sexton and Ryan’s fingerprints were found on the black plastic wrapping and on toothbrushes found in the house. After the search police believed both Sexton and Ryan had gone to England, but Sexton had returned to the North some months afterwards and pleaded guilty to the two charges against him. He was given a suspended prison sentence and fine.
Ryan had remained in England, however, and was only arrested in relation to the haul when he attended a police station in London last week.
When he was taken back to Fermanagh and interviewed, Ryan said he would have stayed at the address where the plants were found on a number of occasions when he came to visit family and go to parties, which is why his toothbrush would have been there. He denied any knowledge of a cannabis factory, explaining he may have touched the black plastic lining when it was in the garden.
Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said the police could not confirm, and had not evidence to show, Ryan was a resident in Fermanagh at the time of the search. A police constable said he had only interviewed Ryan the previous night and there were a number of matters he needed to follow up on, such as the defendant’s claim he was receiving benefits and working as a plumber in England around November 2014.
The constable added Sexton had told them those who set up the cannabis factory had worn latex gloves when setting it up, and said three men with Cavan accents had told them to do it. He said Sexton had also claimed a man with an English accent called John and overseen the operation.
Mr Roddy pointed out Sexton was Ryan’s step-brother and would not have referred to his client in such a way.
The barrister added Ryan had presented himself to police in London, and had not returned to the North previously because he had been unaware there had been a warrant issued for him or that he faced charges in connection with the cannabis find.
After being escorted back to Fermanagh by PSNI officers on Tuesday, Mr Roddy applied for bail on Ryan’s behalf on Wednesday. Police voiced their concerns that he may not return from London if release on bail, as he had fled there before and because his nine-year-old child lived there, for whom he was sole guardian.
District Judge Nigel Broderick hesitantly granted Ryan bail, on his own bail of £500 with a surety of £950, on the condition he resided only at Scotland Road, Enfield, London. He also ordered him to report to police three times a week and to have no contact with Danny Sexton.
The case was adjourned until October 3.
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