Couple had cocaine factory in Crossgar

Couple had cocaine factory in Crossgar

4 February 2015

THE dramatic moments when undercover police officers raided a cocaine processing plant in Crossgar have been revealed in a local court.

PSNI officers had tracked the cocaine through England, on to the ferry at Cairnryan, into west Belfast and finally to the Derryboy Road home of Robert and Christine Clifford before they finally pounced on the drugs gang.

Inside a garage at the house police found cocaine with a street value of £250,000 along with cutting agents used to dilute the strength of the drugs, scales, plastic bags, a hydraulic press, a blender, latex gloves and mixing bowls.

Two men were inside the garage when the police raided the home on August 1, 2013, and they ran away across fields in the dark. They were Belfast men Edward Dunn and Terry McCrory, the two main men in the drugs gang. Dunn was detained an hour later off the Manse Road while McCrory was arrested a week later.

Prosecution barrister, Mr. David McDowell QC, told Downpatrick Crown Court on Friday that police also arrested Robert Clifford, who had been standing outside the house keeping watch, and his wife Christine, who was inside the home with one of the couple’s children.

A fifth member of the gang, John Edward Harvey, the lorry driver who brought the drugs from England, was detained later.

Before the court on Friday were McCrory (52), of Benview Park, Belfast, Harvey (51), of Ardoyne Road, Belfast, who were each charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and the Cliffords, who were each charged with permitting their home to be used to produce the drug. Christine Clifford is McCrory’s niece.

Dunn did not appear at Friday’s court and will be dealt with later this week.

Outlining details of the complicated police operation, Mr. McDowell explained how the PSNI had watched Dunn make several trips to England and meet Harvey in a motorway service station. The pair then make their way separately to Cairnryan where they would separately board the same ferry without acknowledging each other.

These were the ‘dry runs’ being carried out by the drugs gang before they made the real trip with the drugs.

The day before the raid in Crossgar, Dunn was again in England but this time had taken delivery of a quantity of cocaine which he put into a black rucksack. As on the dry runs, he met Harvey in the service station car park off the M40 and handed over the drugs.

The pair made their way to the ferry and when the vessel docked in Larne, Harvey made his way to his home. Dunn rented a white van and drove to west Belfast where he took possession of the drugs again.

He then drove to Crossgar, to the home of the Cliffords, where he met McCrory and the pair began to cut the cocaine and package it into small bags ready for sale.

At this stage the police launched their operation.

Christine Clifford’s barrister, Mr. Kieran Mallon QC, said the 31 year-old had a clear criminal record and had led an exemplary life until that moment. She has three young children aged 11, four and eight months.

“There was a level of naivety with this defendant,” said Mr. Mallon. “I am not suggesting she was exploited but the court can take the view that there was some level of naivety. She felt she might be doing someone a favour.

“This court should have very real confidence that she will never again appear before this court or any other court,” he added.

Mr. Eugene Grant QC, who represented Robert Clifford, said his client has considerable medical issues which Mr. Grant said he will address when a medical report is produced in a future court.

Judge Piers Grant said he would not pass sentence until Dunn is before the court and until he has the medical report on Robert Clifford.

He remanded Harvey and McCrory in custody and released the Cliffords on bail. However, he warned that it was “almost inevitable” that prison sentences would be imposed.