A horse dealer stabbed to death in Northern Ireland was wrongly branded a drugs boss, his family claimed today.
Paddy Fleming (40) was murdered at a party in Coleraine, Co Derry, early on Sunday.
He was being investigated by the North's Assets Recovery Agency (ARA). The authorities had seized control of his luxury home and stables over suspicions that a major drug trafficking operation fuelled his wealth.
But Mr Fleming's mother-in-law, Valerie Hook, insisted the allegations were never proven.
She said: "I have never seen him, been in his house or heard anybody in his house discussing that kind of thing. "I would have caught onto it very quickly. He was never charged with drug dealing."
Mr Fleming, a father of two, died in hospital after being stabbed at a flat on Hazelbank Road in the town.
One man (25) was later arrested and held for questioning. The victim is believed to have visited relatives with his wife before heading on to a party without her.
Fighting broke out, and Mr Fleming, who came from a large family of horse traders, was fatally wounded.
The five-bedroom home where Mr Fleming lived on the edge of Coleraine, set in ten acres of land, was seized 18 months ago. Other alleged proceeds of crime targeted in the ARA investigation included 15 horses and an equestrian arena.
PA