Pat Purcell's son, Daniel, on drugs charges

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Pat Purcell's son, Daniel, on drugs charges

Paula Doneman

June 29, 2008 12:00am

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0...794-952,00.html

 

THE son of disgraced former Labor minister Pat Purcell has allegedly been selling thousands of dollars of ecstasy each week to support his own drug habit.

 

A Brisbane court was yesterday told of allegations that Daniel Raymond Purcell bought 200 ecstasy tablets a week and sold 140 of them "so he could consume" the remaining 60 illicit pills himself.

 

Purcell, an unemployed 23-year-old, was charged with drug trafficking and possession after he was arrested outside The Met Nightclub in Fortitude Valley, in Brisbane's inner-city, on Friday night.

 

He was arrested after police allegedly saw him acting suspiciously. When searched, police allegedly found about 180 ecstasy pills hidden in his underpants.

 

If convicted, Purcell could face up to 25 years in jail after ecstasy, which costs around $40 a tablet, was upgraded to a Schedule 1 drug.

 

He lives with his parents and brother at the family's Balmoral home on Brisbane's southside.

 

During yesterday's hearing, prosecutor Sen-Sgt Mark Gorton opposed bail, saying Purcell posed a risk of re-offending.

 

He described Purcell as an "amateurish" drug trafficker but did not want him released unless he was under strict supervision and medical treatment for his addiction.

 

"He needs strict supervision. Someone to take him on, that will not let him out of their sight. Tie him to a kitchen table. Like any addict, he needs to feed his addiction," Sen-Sgt Gorton said.

 

Magistrate Jim Gordon said "common sense had to come to the fore" in relation to Purcell's addiction.

 

Legal Aid lawyer Janine Tubb told the court her client's family was not aware of Purcell's charges and she was trying to contact his older brother who was "very supportive" of him.

 

Ms Tubb withdrew her bail application after she could not contact the brother.

 

Purcell was remanded in custody until tomorrow.

 

The media broke the news of the arrest to the Purcell family yesterday at their home.

 

"I had no idea, I had no idea . . . wow," his brother said through an intercom.

 

The Sunday Mail telephoned Mr Purcell at his electoral office. The MP for Bulimba said he was trying to get information on his son's charges and did not "want to talk to anyone".

 

He embarrassed the Government in February when he admitted assaulting two public servants last year and lying about it.

 

The assaults were against two of Mr Purcell's most senior managers, State Emergency Services director Eddie Bennet and Emergency Management Queensland deputy executive director Stephen Young.

 

Mr Purcell was charged with two counts of common assault but the charges were later dropped in favour of a secret deal that forced Mr Purcell to make a public apology.

 

He was stripped of his ministry and will retire at the next state election.

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Premier Bligh sympathetic of drug charges

 

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh says she feels for the family of state MP Pat Purcell, whose youngest son will today face drug charges.

Daniel Purcell, 23, was charged on Saturday with drug trafficking after his arrest outside a Fortitude Valley nightclub. He was allegedly found with 180 ecstasy tablets in his underpants.

 

Mr Purcell was remanded in custody and will face Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

 

Ms Bligh said it was every parent's fear that their children would become involved with drugs.

 

"It is one of my fears as a parent, and I know that other parents, we're all fearful that our children will get caught up in this," she said.

 

"I have nothing but sympathy for the Purcell family, but I'm equally able to reassure Queenslanders that Daniel Purcell, like anyone else, will face the courts and the courts will determine his fate without fear or favour."

 

Pat Purcell, a former emergency services minister, avoided a trial on assault charges by issuing a public apology in February to two senior public servants he admitted to hitting in 2007.

 

He has declared he will not stand at the next election.

Source: www.news.com.au