NI man has electronic tag removed to bring children swimming

A Lisburn man who is awaiting trial on drugs offences has had an electronic tag removed to allow him to take his children to the swimming pool.

Daniel Paul Mulholland appeared in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, where a an application to vary his bail condition was made.

The 33-year old father of two from Mandeville Avenue in Lisburn is facing two drugs offences - namely possessing the Class B drug cannabis with intent to supply the drug, and also possessing cannabis on April 11th last year — and is due to stand trial later this year.

The charges relate to the seizure of 60kgs of cannabis worth an estimated £320,000 which the prosecuction claims was discovered in a shed at his sister’s house last spring.

Mr Mulholland was granted High Court bail last year, when stringent conditions were put in place. These included a midnight to 7am curfew, signing at Lisburn police station and wearing an electronic tag.

Barrister Tom McCreanor, who is representing Mr Mulholland, said that since bail was granted his client had complied with all the conditions.

Mr McCreanor said that while Mr Mulholland did not have an issue with most of the bail conditions, the electronic tag had caused him “considerable difficulties” and was an “inconvenience” when it came to domestic matters.

An example of this, the barrister told the court, was his inability due to embarrassment of taking his two young children swimming in Lisburn

Mr McCreanor also made the case to the court that there was no danger of his client absconding, should the tag be removed.

Prosecutor Joseph Murphy said it was the Crown’s case that the tag was a “just and proportionate condition”, adding that due to the tag the police didn’t need to call out to his address.

Mr Murphy said the tag was “imposed to monitor his activity”, adding “it appears to be working as there have been no breaches to bail.”

After hearing submissions from both the Crown and defence, Judge Stephen Fowler ordered that the tag be removed from Mr Mulholland, and said it was a "matter for the police to check whether or not he is honouring his curfew".