Latest news with #MacDermott
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Baby-faced speedster gives ‘two fingers' to law with ANOTHER high-speed chase
Higgins led cops on a 100mph chase just months after he was released from a four year jail sentence for a previous 100mph chase that cost cop the top of two fingers This is the baby-faced mechanic who led cops on a 100mph chase just months after he was released from a four year jail sentence for a previous 100mph chase that lasted 11 miles and cost a cop the top of two fingers! Michael James Higgins appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court by videolink from police custody last Saturday where he was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, aggravated vehicle taking where the car was driving dangerously, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance. The Buckfast-swilling 23-year-old 'made admissions' to police when interviewed about the alleged recent rampage according to his barrister. Higgins confirmed he understood each of the seven charges against him, all alleged to have been committed on 15 May this year. The court was told officers were conducting routine duties and had set up a checkpoint on the Drumcroon Road area when a Seat Leon made off from them at speeds in excess of 100mph. Michael Higgins Chief Inspector McManus said: 'The driver of the vehicle, a black Seat Leon, did not stop for police when signalled to do so. Just before 2.30pm, specially trained officers commenced a pursuit of the vehicle which culminated in the deployment of a stinger device. The vehicle was brought to a halt.' Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott conceded there was sufficient evidence to connect Higgins to the charges while a prosecution lawyer said there were objections to Higgins being freed on bail. 'He has a considerable record for similar offending,' the lawyer told District Judge Peter Magill. Revealing that Higgins 'made admissions' during police interviews, Mr MacDermott conceded he did have a record but highlighted that he had not offended since the last time he was in court in October 2022. In fact in 2022 Higgins was jailed for 46 months for a previous crime spree and it's understood he was only freed from prison less than a year ago. Mr MacDermott submitted the defendant could be bailed to live with his parents. Judge Magill said he was minded to grant bail but there would be an added condition that Higgins is not allowed to be in any private motor vehicle. Releasing Higgins on his own bail of £250, Judge Magill barred him from being in any private vehicle and ordered him to reside at his home address. Adjourning the case to 2 June, he warned Higgins not to breach bail or reoffend because if he does 'you will be staying in custody.' In October 2022 Higgins was handed a 46 month sentence and seven year driving ban at Antrim Crown Court after he lead half a dozen police crews on a 100 mph pursuit where there were so 'sparks flying' from four burst tyres. That incident also related to events on the Drumcroon Road and describing it as 'mayhem' when she jailed Higgins, Judge Roseanne McCormick that despite being banned from driving and being on bail for other driving offences, Higgins got behind the wheel of his girlfriend's VW Passat on 25 September 2021. The police had been watching but when they signalled for the car to stop, Higgins sped off down Causeway Street in Portrush beginning an 11 mile police chase during which Higgins breached a no entry sign and reached speeds up to 100 mph, including on country roads, as he hammered towards Coleraine. He went the wrong way on a mini roundabout, narrowly avoided several collisions as he travelled on the wrong side of the road, ignored his passengers 'screaming' pleas for him to stop, carried on after a stinger took out two of his tyres, seriously injured a police officer's hand, drove on 'completely out of control' when a second stinger burst his remaining tyres and rammed two marked police cars, injuring two more officers. On that occasion the court heard how a cop lost the tops of his middle and ring fingers on his dominant right hand when the first stinger device was successfully deployed but became entangled in the wheels when Higgins failed to stop. When he did stop Higgins and his four terrified passengers all tried to run off but were apprehended and he later entered guilty pleas to causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving, driving while banned, driving without insurance and driving while unfit. Michael Higgins News in 90 Seconds - May 29th The judge revealed that at the time of that incident Higgins was on bail for earlier driving offences including dangerous driving, drink driving, no insurance and failing to stop. In relation to that case, Higgins had been driving a Vauxhall van on 1 August 2021 when he collided with a sign at a Centra garage on the Dunhill Road in Coleraine and despite a tyre being blown out, he drove on. Police rushed to the scene when they received a series of calls about 'sparks flying from the near side wheel, so much so that a fire was lit along the grass verge of the Drumcroon Road.' Higgins abandoned the van just before police arrived but he was arrested hiding under a hedge nearby and he was found to be just over twice the drink drive limit. Arrested and interviewed, Higgins claimed he was drunk and tired and had 'panicked' when he hit the garage sign.
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Derry man who admitted to dealing after drugs and £62k in cash found in home fears Republican threats, court told
Londonderry Magistrates Court also heard today that the PSNI recovered quantities of cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin and herbal cannabis during a search of Christopher Gallagher's home on Foyle Road. A police witness said officers also seized paraphernalia — including weighing scales and a grinder — in addition to a strap list containing the names of 15 people and 25 firework rockets. The property, where the 40-year-old defendant lives with his long-term partner and their 14-year-old son, was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Thursday, April 24. Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court his client is a drug addict and made full admissions to possessing the drugs and to being concerned in supplying cannabis, possessing criminal property — namely £62,000, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and owning fireworks without a certificate. The legal representative applied for anonymity on behalf of Gallagher based on the general threat posed to drug defendants by Republican paramilitaries. "I accept there is no specific threat against him but he feels there would be a threat because of the area where he lives in that he could come to the attention of people who may harm him,' Mr MacDermott said. 'He believes there would be a risk to his life and to his family. In recent years people in this city facing these types of offences have been shot.' The application was opposed by media representatives and the police witness told Deputy District Judge Laura Lever that "anything in relation to a threat against him has been reported by himself". Deputy District Judge Ievers refused to grant the anonymity application. Opposing bail the police officer told the court that during the search operation, the police found 5g of cannabis resin, 10g of cannabis, a grinder and £12,000 in the main bedroom of the house. The witness said 1.8kg of herbal cannabis was found packed into vacuum bags in a blue bin in the garden with £50,000 in cash bundles and digital weighing scales. The fireworks were found in the garden shed. Police also seized two mobile phones. The officer told the court that following his arrest the defendant said all of the drugs belonged to him and the £62,000 was for paying off drugs debts. The witness said the amount of cash and drugs found in the house "indicate a large scale drugs operation' but that the defendant said he was holding the money for other people to clear his debts. 'He has admitted selling drugs and he said he is fearful of people coming to his property now that they have lost their money,' the officer continued. 'The defendant has 15 previous convictions for drugs offences. "Bail is opposed because there is a concern for his safety, there is a risk that he would re-offend, he has relevant previous convictions and there is a risk to himself if these other people would come back." Mr MacDermott argued his client had been frank and honest with the police following his arrest adding: "He is a drugs user and he got into debt with various people. Clearly, he accepts he was dealing in drugs. Alternative addresses are available to him and bail measures could be put in place to safeguard society and himself.' But bail was refused by Deputy District Judge Ievers and the defendant was remanded into custody until May 22.
