THE Derry News is today prevented from publishing the addresses of two alleged drug dealers from the city.
The two men appeared in separate cases at a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court on Saturday.
During the hearings, it was alleged by the men’s legal representatives that they could be attacked by paramilitary groups if their addresses were published.
A police officer said there was concern for the safety of defendants if their addresses were printed.
District Judge Liam McNally initially agreed to the ban on the defendants’ addresses being printed.
However, Mr McNally later ruled that he would need to hear legal argument on the issue and removed the ban.
He added that he would leave the decision on whether or not to publish the addresses up to the media.
However, at the end of the hearing when journalists present asked for access to court documents which contain the defendants’ addresses, this request was declined by a court official.
Therefore, the addresses of the two men cannot be included in this report.
Before the court were 19 year-old Dean McMonagle and 26 year-old Sean Morrison.
McMonagle faces a total of five charges: possession of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to supply; possession of ecstasy; possession of ecstasy with intent to supply; and possession of cannabis.
The court was told that drugs with an estimated street value of £1,300 were found during a search of McMonagle’s home last Friday.
A police officer said the find included 200 ecstasy tablets and seven individual wraps of cocaine.
The court heard that McMonagle had been convicted last Monday of possession of a Class B drug and had been fined £150.