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THE SOLICITOR MICHAELLA McCollum Connolly’s family hired to represent her has flown to Peru ahead of today’s preliminary court hearing.
A spokesperson at Madden and Finucane Solicitors told TheJournal.ie that Peter Madden flew out yesterday afternoon. They said they were unsure how long he will spend in the South American country as it will depend on the case.
Twenty-year-old Michaella from Dungannon, Co Tyrone and 19-year-old Mellissa Reid from Glasgow were found 10 days ago with around 11kg of cocaine at Jorge Chavez airport as they tried to check into a flight bound for Madrid.
The pair have denied knowledge of the drugs and said they were forced by a gang with guns to carry the bags.
Earlier this week Madden said he was “confident that Michaela (sic) will be exonerated”.
Irish priest, Fr Maurice Foley based in Lima, told RTÉ’s Today with Myles Dungan that sending a lawyer is “a very good move” and believes a Peruvian court will listen to arguments from a legal person from Ireland.
Fr Foley then went on to outline the drab conditions in Peruvian prisons that Mellissa and Michaella could soon face.
Very often prisoners have to sleep on the floor against the cold… Food is bad and hygiene is bad too.
There’s no such thing as a cell. There is a big room with around 50 or 60 prisoners. They are not locked up really. The can move around and talk to each other.
Those who have beds can lease them out.
… They are in for a bad time.
He also spoke about violence, and said although it’s bad in the female prisons, it’s worse in male prisons as “they make gangs”.
Fr Foley said he is sure the women were “conned” and said the average drug smuggler is given between seven and 20 years.
“If their case was well pleaded they could be out in two and a half years,” he added.
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Anything other than NEPHET is good news
@Maurice O Neill: Or even anything other than TRUMP is even better news.
@Maurice O Neill: Yes, but it’s going to be very cold so PLEASE only got out if essential. Ensure proper had hygiene with lots of moisturiser to stop chapping and wear gloves. Scarves, of course, are mandatory but we’ve had good compliance for this general. Lastly, 2 metre social distancing is recommended in the strongest terms, for an anyway decent snowball fight. Thank you.
I have several loaves of bread, toilet paper and easter eggs. I’m looking to swap for a Tesla, please, I know what I have and won’t negotiate.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Tesla’s are rubbish in the snow
I knew it was a good idea to buy that snow shovel in Aldi 5 years ago.
@Tom Leddy: dam, I traded my snow shovel in for a multi tool that cuts from bread to oak trees.
In fairness this is the first “normal “ winter we’ve had in years. It won’t guarantee us a Summer though
@Sean Treacy: Well if it keeps a fair amount of people in, it might guarantee they’ll see Summer.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: well said
@Fiona Fitzgerald: wow!!
@Sean Treacy: positivity only please
It is already cold this afternoon, can definitely feel a difference. However, it is the first time I was outside of the house since Monday, so anything could have happened outside between then and now and it would be an event LOL
All there equipment and its all up in the air we might get snow we might not get snow come on its 2021 get it right
@Roy O’ Brien: “all the equipment”? This has to be one of the most laziest and misguided karen whinges of all journal comments history! Ask to see the manager….that should sort out your issues.
@Roy O’ Brien: I’m not one to slate a fellow O’Brien, so I won’t.
That will be helpful to the pensioners that are being screwed with the carbon tax on their oil and gas!
@John Mc Donagh: get a fat wife and save on heating
Time to defrost the freezer and stock up so.
Lads, YakTrax are a lifesaver if you’re walking on concrete.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: any good for snow and ice?
not gonna happen
have your say