'Blackmail' trial: Former councillor denies taking cocaine

A former Fianna Fáil councillor at the centre of an alleged blackmail plot has denied in court that he was taking cocaine on the night in question

Wesley Higgins (aged 33) is accused of attempting to extort €5,000 from ex Dublin City Councillor, Liam Kelly, by threatening to give pictures of him allegedly taking cocaine to a newspaper. The pictures were printed in the Sunday World shortly afterwards.

Mr Higgins of Dundaniel Road, Kilmore, Coolock has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding money with menaces between August 6 and 12, 2006.

During often heated cross-examination that lasted all day, Mr Kelly denied repeatedly that he was lying about his version of events and that phone records contradicted his evidence.

Mr Keith Spencer BL, defending, presented a photograph to Mr Kelly which he says shows the witness “crouched over the arm of a couch with what looks to be a mirror or CD case- you’ve a tube to your nose and there’s white powder underneath.”

Mr Kelly replied that he accepts the photograph showed him in a “compromising position” but that he can’t recall its circumstances and that he did not take cocaine. The witness said he was an alcoholic and suffered from a “blackout” that night.

Mr Spencer said Mr Kelly was using the blackouts as a “convenient explanation” and that his recollection of the night is important because “you are the shaky foundation on which this prosecution is based.”

Counsel then put it to him that at one point the cocaine at the party ran out and Mr Higgins went to get more. He said that once the accused had left the house other people at the party began making fun of Mr Kelly because he had told them he was a politician and “in government”.

Counsel said Mr Kelly was anxious for the accused to return and phone data showed text messages from him to Mr Higgins, stating: “Get me out of here”, “Hurry Wes” and “How are you getting on?”

Mr Kelly replied that these text messages were sent while he was still in the city centre waiting to be picked up by Mr Higgins and taken to the party. He said they had nothing to do with the collection of cocaine.

Counsel also referred to a text received on Mr Higgins’ phone at 5.08am from “Bill” who he described as a drug dealer. It read: “Come up to me very discreetly. Turn the motor off. Don’t open gate. Jump the wall. Thanks mate.”

Mr Kelly said he has no knowledge of this message.

At points in the cross-examination, Mr Spencer called Mr Kelly an “absolute liar” and said his account was “absolute nonsense”.

“Mr Kelly, you are trying to treat us all like fools”, counsel said. “You are lying, you are an inveterate liar.”

Mr Spencer also put it to the witness that phone records contradict his garda statement that he was picked up by Mr Higgins for the party at around 2.30am. Counsel said the records suggest the party didn’t begin until after 5am which was “entirely implausible.”

Mr Kelly responded that his drinking affected his recollection of when he was picked up and that it is plausible a party could start after 5am.

Cross examination of the witness is due to continue tomorrow before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury of six men and six women.