Kid's soccer tournament chief caged for drug factory

David James McConnell was chairman of the George Best Community Cup

A FORMER top loyalist who once ran the George Best Community Cup football competition for children has been jailed for his role in a drugs factory.

David James McConnell (35), of Victoria Road, Sydenham, pleaded guilty to possessing herbal cannabis with intent to supply and produce the drug.

A defence barrister for the disgraced drug-dealing community worker handed into court a number of references, including one from east Belfast UUP MLA Michael Copeland.

McConnell was recently involved in talks about sports facilities in east Belfast with Mr Copeland at his Stormont office.

McConnell was often seen on the streets of east Belfast during clashes on the Short Strand interface in 2012. At the time he said his role was to quell violence, which he denied was orchestrated by the UVF.

In the dock with McConnell were Philip William Pinkerton (25), of Windmill Court, Crossgar Road, Saintfield, Co Down, and Stewart Thomas Worthingon (52), of Flush Road, Belfast.

Pinkerton pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and producing cannabis.

He also pleaded guilty to having counterfeit cash.

Worthington pleaded guilty to allowing Class B drugs to be produced on his premises.

The court heard that while Pinkerton and Worthington had no previous convictions, McConnell was fined in 2000 following his conviction for possession of cannabis.

Belfast Crown Court heard that during a surveillance operation by the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch on July 17, 2012, officers found the cannabis factory in a disused bakery in Flush Park, east Belfast.

A prosecuting lawyer said police officers observed two males going into the disused bakery.

"Officers went inside and there was a strong smell of cannabis. Two male persons were observed and when the officers identified themselves as police, the two males tried to escape from the premises.''

Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland was told that officers found a herbal cannabis factory in the premises with eight baker tray loads of herbal cannabis along with herbal cannabis stalks and flowers.

"Police say that the total street value of the drugs uncovered was £21,000. Officers recovered around 3kg of herbal cannabis.''

McConnell was arrested on the premises. In a follow-up search at an address linked to Pinkerton on the Clarawood estate, detectives found £275 in counterfeit sterling notes.

Judge McFarland was told that the premises were owned by Worthington and he was later arrested for questioning but denied allowing them to be used for producing cannabis.

Judge McFarland sentenced Worthington to 240 hours community service for his role in allowing the premises to be used in cultivating the cannabis.

The judge sentenced Pinkerton to 20 months, with eight months in custody and the rest on licence.

McConnell was sentenced to 18 months, with six months in custody and the rest on licence.

He also granted a destruction order on materials seized.

BACKGROUND

The George Best Community Cup was axed in 2011. David McConnell was chairman of the organising committee at Inverary community centre, which Belfast City Council had allowed him to use to run the competition. But in August 2010, the council ordered him out of its facilities. It said: "Matters have been brought to the council's attention with regard to his occupation of the premises which are currently under consideration." McConnell said at the time: "My reputation is in ruins as a community worker."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk 19/03/2014