Co Down father and son charged with offences arising from drugs raid handed suspended sentences

A Co Down father and son charged with offences arising from a drugs raid have been handed suspended sentences.

Robert Mark Gillespie (46), from Moss Road, Millisle, and his 21-year old son Mark, from Park Crescent, appeared via videolink with Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, from their solicitor's office.

They both admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by agreeing to give false information to the PSNI in the aftermath of a search in December 2018.

In addition, Gillespie senior pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and possessing criminal property.

On the morning of December 18 2018, police searched a property at Park Crescent where a "significant amount" of cannabis was found, along with other drug-related items.

A Crown barrister said various quantities of herbal cannabis were located throughout the property - including 450 grams in vacuum packs in a bedroom, 31 grams in a Tesco bag in the kitchen and 13 grams on a radiator in a utility room.

Other items such as growing equipment were found in a conservatory and shed.

In total, 623 grams of cannabis was seized, along with £2,840.

The father and son were not present during the search, but they presented themselves to police that evening and were arrested.

They initially claimed that Gillespie senior knew nothing about the drugs, and that his son was holding them under duress for loyalist paramilitaries.

However, Robert Gillespie later admitted the drugs were his and not his son's, while Mark Gillespie said he gave a false account to police to try to protect his father from going to prison.

Judge Geoffrey Miller said Robert Gillespie displayed "forthright views on the use of cannabis" which if continued were "going to continue to bring him into conflict with the law".

He was handed a 16-month sentence suspended for three years.

Turning to Mark Gillespie, Judge Miller said it was accepted he acted out of a "misplaced sense of loyalty to his father" and he was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for a year.