Lorry man in court over £1m drugs

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A lorry driver is accused of having £1m of cannabis with intent to supply

A lorry driver has been remanded after appearing in court charged with possessing £1m of cannabis with intent to supply.

Kevin Keightley, 45, from Dunavan Heights in Dungannon appeared at a special sitting of Ballymena Magistrates Court on Saturday.

He was arrested after driving a lorry off the Larne to Cairnryan ferry on Friday.

The court heard he made no comment when the charges were put to him.

A police officer told the court that bales of cannabis worth £1m were found in Mr Keightley 's vehicle when it was stopped in a routine check.

He added that when arrested, he said: "I knew they were bad, but I was going to be given ten grand for them."

A defence solicitor said his client had no previous record of any serious charge against him and that his wife had died of cancer a few years ago, with Mr Keightley left to bring up a daughter and son.

The resident magistrate refused to grant bail, saying the charges were too serious to allow this to happen.

Mr Keightley is to appear in court again on 8 August.