Drug Dealer's Fine Taunt For Overdose Boy's Family

Jan 27 2008 Exclusive by Stuart Griffiths

A DEALER who sold drugs to a teenager before the boy died from an overdose taunted his victim's family as he walked free from court.

Graeme Weir, 32, was given a £1700 fine then bragged: "I can pay that out of my piggy bank."

Weir - nicknamed Popeye due to his similarity to the cartoon character - was fined for possessing cannabis and CS gas.

He had been cleared of supplying the drugs which killed George MacFarlane, 16, on a not-proven verdict last month.

The jury did not know he was already serving three months for dealing amphetamines.

George's family had turned up at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week hoping to finally see Weir locked up.

The thug cruelly taunted them on the steps outside after being fined £600 over the cannabis and £1100 for the CS gas.

A policewoman had to step in after one of the teen's relatives tried to punch him.

George's father, also George, 50, said: "Weir is an animal who should be locked up to protect the public. This fine wouldn't have covered the price of wee George's headstone.

"This is a mockery of justice - people have gone to jail for much less."

George, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, revealed to his mum Sandra, 40, that Weir sold him cocaine and Valium just hours before his death in January 2006.

And his stepbrother Graham claimed George showed him 50 Valium tablets and two grams of coke bought from Weir.

The dealer pleaded guilty to having CS gas and cannabis, which were found with thousands of pounds in cash when police raided his Wishaw home.

Sheriff Ray Small wanted to know where unemployed Weir got the money and if the Crown or proceeds of crime enforcers had any interest in it.

But the Crown said they would not be making any claim as the bulk of the cash belonged to Weir's sister.

Defence lawyer Kevin McCarron said police had kept almost £4000 whichWeir had saved. The Sheriff ordered the fine be paid from it.

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