Belfast trio to be sentenced over £125k drug operation

THREE north Belfast men will be sentenced next week for their roles in a “professional and well planned” £125,000 cocaine and cannabis drug supply operation.

At Belfast Crown Court yesterday, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC told Nicholas Mackle snr and Philip Hugh Mitchell that they face immediate custody while Nicholas Mackle jnr heard he will not be going to jail.

Nicholas Mackle snr (60), of Fortwilliam Park, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply and possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

His 40-year-old son Nicholas Mackle jnr, of Coolymoyne Park, pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivating cannabis.

Philip Hugh Mitchell (35), of Beechwood Avenue, Newtownabbey, pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Prosecution lawyer Natalie Pinkerton told the court that on April 1, 2015, police searched a number of addresses in north Belfast and recovered a “significant” quantity of Class A cocaine and Class B cannabis and amphetamine or ‘speed’ drugs along with a number of firearms and ammunition. She said Mitchell and Mackle snr were found at an address in Midlands Close where police recovered a quantity of cocaine with a “high purity level’’ of up to 80% and which had potential street value of over £110,000.

Ms Pinkerton said that around the corner in Midland Crescent, police searched a house and found two cocaine presses.

Defence counsel Jim Gallagher QC said Mitchell had an addiction to drink and drugs and got involved to pay off a “drug debt”.

Eilis McDermott QC, for Mackle snr, said he had played a “lesser role” in what she described as an operation “which has the hallmarks of a professional and well planned operation”. Greg Berry QC said Mackle jnr had pleaded guilty almost two years ago and urged the court to impose a suspended sentence or probation order.