Hibs star O’Connor faces cocaine possession charge

SCOTLAND striker Garry O’Connor was yesterday accused of possessing cocaine and running away from police.

Hibs striker O’Connor, 28, was absent when his case was called at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but his defence agent Jonathan Campbell asked for the matter to be continued without plea for three weeks for his lawyers to take instructions.

O’Connor, who earned his first Scotland cap at the age of 18, is alleged to have resisted, molested and hindered Lothian and Borders Police constables Kathy Eager and Andrew Morrow who were on duty. He is said to have run away from them while they were attempting to establish his details. The offence is alleged to have happened on 14 May this year in Hope Street Lane, Edinburgh.

O’Connor, of Archerfield, Dirleton, North Berwick, is further accused of possessing cocaine at Hope Street Lane, Rose Street Lane North and St Leonards police station, all Edinburgh, on the same day.

He was charged shortly after rejoining Hibs. He previously spent six years at Easter Road before a £1.6 million transfer to Russian team Lokomotiv Moscow. He then went to Birmingham City and Barnsley before moving back up north. Sheriff Derrick McIntyre continued the case until later this month.