Mother of cocaine victim on trial for drugs charges

THE MOTHER of a man who died two weeks after an alleged “cocaine party” will stand trial on drugs related charges next month.

Betty Grey, from Ballybeg in Co Waterford, was in Waterford Circuit Court with her sister yesterday when the date for her trial, alongside two accused, was set for February 24.

She is facing a charge of allowing her house to be used for the illegal use of drugs.

The trial will be heard before a jury.

Her son, John, 23, died in Waterford Regional Hospital 16 days after falling into a coma after attending a party in her house in Ballybeg Square in the early hours of November 25, 2007.

Another local man, Kevin Doyle, 21, who also fell into a coma after the party, died days later.

Grey will stand trial alongside Anthony Connolly and Claire Cassidy, who are also facing drugs related charges arising from the party.

Barrister Noel Whelan, representing the State, told Judge Rory MacCabe that the trial is expected to take a number of days.

Meanwhile, another co-accused, Darren Flynn, who is charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply on or about November 25, 2007, will be sentenced on Friday after the court was told yesterday that he will enter a plea.

Flynn, who is in custody on unrelated charges, was brought before the court where he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary and one count of criminal damage.

The court was told that Flynn was found wielding a meat cleaver after entering an apartment on Wellington Street in Waterford on April 2, 2007 to commit a theft.

He will be sentenced in relation to those charges, and to the drugs charges, on Friday.