Five Portuguese men are refused bail accused of supplying heroin in Co Tyrone

FIVE men from Portugal have been refused bail after they were charged with supplying heroin.

The suspects were arrested on Monday in Cookstown, Co Tyrone following an investigation into the supply of the Class A drug in the town.

All five various charges of attempting to supply heroin.

No details of the police operation which led to their arrest in Cookstown were given during their appearance at Omagh Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Bernadette Kelly told the court the men all had criminal records and one had appeared in court twice this year on similar charges.

The judge asked: “You want me to free them on to our streets to the detriment of the youth of our community?”

She told the lawyer they could appeal her decision to refuse bail to the high court in Belfast.

All five men were remanded in custody to appear again via video link at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on September 4.