Anonymity orders in respect of four men charged with drugs offences have been quietly dropped following a review of the case.

As reported by HTFP last week, four men charged with drug offences have been granted anonymity orders amid fears that court reports are being used by vigilantes and rival gangs to track down people believed to be dealers.

When the men, who include a father and two sons, first appeared before a special court in Omagh last month, the judge granted an anonymity order so strict that all reference to the case was removed from court listings.

Granting anonymity, district judge Barney McElholm said, “Certain illegal organisations have made it clear they will use court reports as a source of intelligence to track people they believe to be drug dealers.”

However less than a fortnight later, at a subsequent hearing at Derry/Londonderry Magistrates Court, order was dropped and the four can now be named.

They are Dermot McBride (54) and his sons Ryan Bell (25) and Dylan Bell (20) from The Old Fort along with Oran Brown (20) Stradowen Drive, Derry/Londonderry who are accused of possessing and being concerned in supplying cocaine and cannabis.

There was no prior indication that the anonymity order would dropped, and the move was only revealed following notification from the Lady Chief Justice.

It read: “The court ordered that the anonymity order be removed and have no effect from this date.”

Court and local democracy reporter Tanya Fowles, pictured, who has been following the case, said: “It’s unclear what brought about the change which could have been because the necessary threshold was not met, there was insufficient supporting evidence, or there was some form of intervention or direction.”

Tanya has asked the Lady Chief Justice why anonymity was dropped having been previously granted with ease at the behest of defence lawyers, but there has been no response as yet.

A police officer previously explained that reports were received of suspected drugs activity in Strathfoyle on 27 March.

On entering the property two males jumped out of a rear window before both were quickly detained.

Approximately 40gms of cocaine was located where one of the men had been seated along with £100 cash.

McBride was found with two small bags of cannabis and another containing cocaine. A safe was found in his bedroom but he refused to open it so police forced entry and discovered a tub containing 40 deal bags, scales and a list of telephone numbers allegedly relating to cash owed.

Brown was in another bedroom and a search uncovered £4,000 cash and 40gms of suspected cannabis,

McBride admitted possessing the drugs located on his person but denied any other offences, while Brown admitted possessing cannabis but denied any association with cocaine.

Ryan Bell admitting weighing and bagging drugs, but claimed he was “forced by his father” while Dylan Bell admitted being involved in supplying drugs but insisted this was, “under duress”.

McBride and Brown were remanded in custody while the Bell brothers were bailed on condition they had no contact with any co-accused.