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??/??/?? - Leah drug monster's peddling death again
By PAUL GILFEATHER
News of the World
THE News of the World has tracked down the evil drugs pusher
branded in court as Leah Betts' killerand he's still plying
his deadly trade putting thousands of young lives at risk. Cowardly
Mark Murray fled to Spain after being quizzed by police over
Leah's tragic Ecstasy death following her 18th birthday party.
And last week our investigators caught up with him in a seedy
Canary Islands bar where he shamelessly touts for business and
fixes dope deals. As he sidled up to an undercover reporter
Murray leered: "So what's it you're after? Some pills?"
The cunning lowlife then arranged for our man to collect three
Ecstasy tablets from a grinning waiter at another bar.
It took just ONE of the lethal dance drug pills to claim the
life of young Leah in November, 1995. Cops searched convicted
drug peddler Murray's home in Pitsea, Essex, but he denied being
involved and slipped out of the country when he was released
without charge.
But in a sensational trial last December nightclub doorman Patrick
O'Mahoney told Norwich Crown Court that Murray HAD supplied
the pill which eventually ended up in Leah's hands. "He
killed Leah Betts and he will continue to kill people,"
declared O'Mahoney.
Now, sporting a dark tan and long hair, Murray scours the streets
of Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria for trade, targeting throngs
of young Brits out for fun. Although he's 36, youthful looking
Murray wears trendy clothes and mingles easily with the teenage
crowd, flirting with girls.
He works as a tout, luring youngsters into the New Way Bar in
the resort's main shopping centre a gaudy strip of pubs, clubs
and restaurants picking up commission. But as darkness falls
sly Murray really cashes in by selling the notorious E tablets.
Despite the scandal of Leah's death hanging over him, he brazenly
sets up drug deals for kids without a thought for their safety.
When approached by our undercover reporter, Murray promised:
"I can get you sorted. Ecstasy? Come back and see me in
a couple of hours." When our reporter returned Murray was
in high spirits.
His eyes looked doped as he bragged: "I live here in a
rented apartment with my girlfriend Denise she's five months
pregnant with my kid. "She's from Hamilton in Scotland
and her dad's Gerry McCabe, the coach with Kilmarnock football
club." As he moved close and asked if our man wanted some
pills Murray introduced a stocky partner and said: "If
you go with this man into the Crossroads Bar, we'll get you
sorted.
"It would be better if you had a friend to go in with because
one person on their own looks dodgy. "Never mind, when
you walk in take a seat and my man here will send a waiter over.
Order a drink and the waiter will bring it over with the pills."
On the way to the Crossroads Murray's pal demanded cash.
"The pills are £12.50 each," he declared. "They're
slightly more expensive than back home but that's the going
rate over here." The bar was packed with British couples,
unaware of the sordid trade going on behind the scenes. As Murray
promised, an English waiter brought the drink and the drugs.
As he slipped the reporter three Ecstasy tablets concealed in
a menu, he whispered: "They're called Pink Mercedes and
they're the best you can get on the island. You'll have a great
night." The deadly pills get their nickname from the fake
Mercedes car logo pressed into them. One local told us: "The
E scene doesn't come alive until after 11pm.
By that time most of the touts are high themselves and ready
for a good night on the town. "Scoring Ecstasy here is
as easy as buying San Miguel beer." Tattooed Murray usually
winds up at the New Way around 1am and then meets his redhead
lover at the Braveheart Bar a Scottish-themed basement dive
where she works serving drinks.
The sparsely decorated joint is popular with British workers
in the town as it does not close until 5am. And many of the
local ex-pat community know all about Murray's past. Since arriving
over a year ago he has worked promoting clubs and timeshare
firms. But his real trade is an open secret.
And he has become a sleazy hero among his own kind, always the
centre of attention as he boasts of his exploits. One Brit worker
who moved to the Canaries shortly after Murray in early 1996,
revealed: "Everyone knows Mark's involved with drugs.
After all the newspaper and TV reports about him he's like a
minor celebrity here and it doesn't seem to bother him."
Locals have learned how Murray's part in Leah's death emerged
at the trial of computer programmer Steven Packman, later cleared
of being involved in supplying the lethal tablet.
The trial heard how Leah's chain of death began with pills being
bought from a pusher at Raquel's nightclub in Basildon, Essex,
by the friend of a friend. Leah and best pal Sarah Cargill took
one each before her 18th birthday party at her family home in
nearby Latchingdon. After a few hours Leah fell into a coma
and died in hospital four days later.
It was during Packman's trial that Raquel's. former head doorman,
O'Mahoney, named Murray as the club's main dealer, responsible
for flooding the place with Ecstasy every week. He emphatically
blamed Murray for the tragedy and accused the management of
turning a blind eye to his activities.
And O'Mahoney also revealed how Murray had been working for
a drug scene Mr Big a crook called Tony Tucker who had the underworld
"franchise" to push dope in local clubs as well as
supplying bouncers. Gangster Tucker, 38, was one of three men
blasted to death in a Range Rover at Rettendon, Essex, just
a month after Leah died.
Detectives admit they are frustrated at the way Murray has escaped
justice. And last night Leah's broken-hearted dad Paul, 50,
a retired Metropolitan Police inspector, admitted: "Murray
has no shame, no remorse. Knowing he's out there enjoying the
sunshine and sangria while still spreading misery infuriates
me.
"I'd like to praise the courage of News of the World investigators
prepared to expose his vile behaviour. I only wish the legal
system would take up the challenge, get him back, lock him up
and throw away the key." Denise McCabe's father Gerry Kilmarnock's
assistant manager was stunned when we revealed who his 20-year-old
daughter is mixed up with.
"We knew she was expecting," said Gerry, 40, at the
Seamill Hydro, Ayrshire, where his team is preparing for Saturday's
Scottish Cup Final clash with Falkirk. "But my wife Sheena
and I had no idea her boyfriend was into all this. It's a complete
shock." |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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