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Peru

Michaella's brother visits her in Peruvian police custody ahead of trial

He visited his sister at the national police anti-drug headquarters where Michaella and her companion Melissa Reid are being held.

The brother of suspected drug smuggler Michaella McCollum Connolly, Keith, and her lawyer leave the National Police anti-drug headquarters. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

IRISH WOMAN MICHAELLA McCollum Connolly’s brother Keith has arrived in Peru ahead of her court hearing tomorrow.

He visited the 20-year-old at the national police anti-drug headquarters where Michaella and her companion Melissa Reid, 19, are being held in connection with €1.7 million of cocaine allegedly found in their luggage.

A video taken shortly after they were arrested by Peruvian police showing the two women being interrogated for allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine on a flight to Spain. In the video, Reid says she was forced to take “these bags” in her luggage and adds she didn’t know there were drugs inside them.

Connolly’s lawyer Peter Madden said the Tyrone woman would be protesting her innocence.

Last week Madden said he was “confident that Michaela (sic) will be exonerated”.

Michaella’s lawyer Peter Madden leaves the national police anti-drug headquarters where his client and Melissa Reid are being held. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Read: Irish man turned down 10k to work as a drug mule in Ibiza>

More: “I don’t really want to talk to any journalist at any stage” – Michaella McCollum Connolly>

Also: Irish woman missing in Ibiza found and arrested in Peru over drugs find>