Garda: Man had reputation as drug dealer before article

A GARDA told the High Court yesterday that a man had a reputation as a drug dealer and money lender before he was allegedly libelled by a newspaper accusing him of being a Traveller “drug king”.

Det Garda Eddie McHale, who has been an officer in Sligo for 30 years, said Martin McDonagh’s reputation was known in the town before the Sunday World published an article accusing him of having masterminded the importation of €500,000 worth of cannabis and ecstasy which was seized by gardaí in Tubercurry, Co Sligo, in September 1999.

The newspaper denies the claim and says the words complained of are true in substance and fact.