Derry: Three drug-related deaths last weekend, court told

Police in Londonderry say a batch of extra-strength pregabalin tablets are missing after three drug-related deaths in the north-west.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it is aware of deaths in Derry and Strabane "where it is suspected that pregabalin and polydrug use occurred".

Earlier, a court heard that five people had also suffered drug-related cardiac arrests in recent days.

It came as a 36-year-old woman appeared charged with a number of drug offences.

A PSNI officer told Londonderry Magistrates' Court that pregabalin tablets found as part of the investigation were "four times stronger" than normal.

He said six blister packs of the drug are missing.

The prescription drug is normally used to treat epilepsy and anxiety, according to the NHS.

It was upgraded to a class C drug in Northern Ireland in 2019, which made it illegal to have the drugs without a prescription or supply or sell them to others.

In a statement, the PHA warned people against taking any substance that has not been prescribed by a medical professional.

In court on Tuesday, news of the three deaths first emerged during a hearing of the accused woman.

The woman was granted anonymity by the judge.

A police officer told the court that officers were called to an address where a 20-year-old man was in cardiac arrest. He later died.

Officers discovered a packet containing pregabalin at the scene, where a number of tablets were missing.

A friend of the deceased linked a woman to the supply of the drug, the court heard.

Police attended the woman's home and found 76 pregabalin tablets, which matched those found on the deceased, and a sum of cash.

The woman denied knowing the man who died or his friend.

The officer told the court there was still six missing blister packs of the drug and that the tablets were "four times stronger" than normal.

Police opposed bail due to the risk of re-offending and concerns the woman could be a risk from "criminal elements".

The woman will appear in court again on 7 September.

A defence solicitor said his client accepted this incident was in "a very, very serious context".

He said the woman had "freely and openly" provided police with the PIN for her phone which could provide police "with a treasure trove of information".

District judge Barney McElholm said that people were manufacturing new variants of drugs "with grossly evil intent".

Refusing bail, he said anyone involved in the drug supply chain would be "met with the full force of the law".

In a statement to BBC News NI, the police have said they are investigating three deaths that occurred in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area over the weekend.

They said that enquiries are ongoing and there is no further information at this time.