Alleged drug dealing Territory cop accused of selling cocaine to other officer out on $10,000 bail

Judge Greg Cavanagh said a guilty verdict would make a jail term ‘almost inevitable’ due to the fact ‘he’s a serving police officer, he’s supposed to uphold the law’.

Police officer Daniel Mark Keelan (centre) leaves the Darwin Local Court on bail surrounded by friends and family after being charged with drug offences.

• Two NT police officers allegedly involved in supplying cocaine charged, stood down from force

A TERRITORY cop and rugby league coach accused of dealing cocaine to another officer while on duty has walked from the Darwin Local Court on $10,000 bail.

Palmerston Raiders coach Daniel Mark Keelan, 43, faced court for the first time on Monday after he was arrested over the weekend and charged with drug supply and possession, stealing and firearms offences.

In arguing for Keelan to be let out, his lawyer Peter Maley said while he acknowledged the case against him was strong, his client was a married father of three with long-term ties to the NT.

Mr Maley said all Keelan’s friends and family were locals, many of whom filled the packed courtroom where some wept as judge Greg Cavanagh heard submissions on whether he would remain behind bars.

“It is a strong Crown case, it’s ultimately likely to resolve as some sort of negotiated plea of guilty but there’s work to be done on that,” Mr Maley said.

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Mr Maley suggested Keelan could potentially receive a suspended sentence but Mr Cavanagh said a jail term was “almost inevitable” due to the “extra aggravating factor”.

“He’s a serving police officer, he’s supposed to uphold the law,” he said.

Mr Maley said there were as yet undisclosed “subjective matters” that would be submitted to the court before he would have to “run the gauntlet of (establishing) particular circumstances” to avoid at least the mandatory minimum 28 days in jail.

“It’s not going to get a plea of guilty until early next year in the Supreme Court at best — probably February or March — and that, in my submission, would be well beyond any term he would be expected serve even if we were unable to establish particular circumstances,” he said.

“There is some material, your honour, which will go to the very heart of the plea and will be relevant and ultimately, if we can resolve it by way of a sensible plea of guilty, the reports that will be presented will be significant and mitigatory.”

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In granting Keelan bail, Mr Cavanagh ordered he pledge a $5000 surety on his own behalf along with another $5000 cash to be stumped up immediately by a family member.

“In all the circumstances, given the fact that he’s got strong ties to the NT, born and bred here, got children here, he’s had no prior convictions, I think the presumption (against bail) is overcome,” he said.

“Especially given the time that might transpire between now and an eventual disposition in the Supreme Court.”