Ex-Wife's Testimony Reveals Acid Attack Plot Over Massive Drug Debt
The ex-wife of a drug dealer who was fatally attacked with sulphuric acid told police she arranged for the alleged attackers to come to her house but did not anticipate any violence, a court has heard. The trial of ten defendants continued at Winchester Crown Court, with seven charged in connection with the murder or manslaughter of Danny Cahalane.
Details of the Fatal Assault and Drug Debt
Danny Cahalane, a 38-year-old drug dealer from Plymouth, was attacked with sulphuric acid at his home in Lipson Road in the early hours of February 21, 2025. He later died on May 3, 2025. Prosecutor Joanna Martin KC informed the jury that Cahalane owed a substantial amount of money to another drug dealer higher up the chain of command, identified in court as Ryan Kennedy, also known as "Frost".
In a police interview on the day of the attack, Paris Wilson, Cahalane's ex-wife, stated they had been together for seven years but separated five years earlier. She described witnessing a suspicious incident outside her Oreston home in January 2025, where two hooded men approached Cahalane's car with malicious intent. Wilson suspected this was linked to a drug debt, with Cahalane telling her that Frost was "a child" whom he was paying off.
Wilson's Involvement and Communications with Frost
Wilson confirmed to police that Frost lived in Dubai and that Cahalane owed him approximately £120,000. She learned this after Frost contacted her via Instagram in the New Year, demanding she "get your boy to pay up" and referring to Cahalane as "Mus". Wilson, who works as a ship broker, claimed Frost asked her to help with a shipping container to Southampton, suggesting it could contain cigarettes, as a way to settle the debt.
She told police she agreed to this request to pacify Frost's aggression, even though she knew she could not fulfill it. Wilson explained that 70 percent of her conversations with Frost centered on Cahalane's drug debt, with Frost threatening that Cahalane's family would need to start rounding up money to pay it off, implying threats to safety if not done.
Arrangements for the Meeting and Aftermath
Wilson admitted to police that she arranged for the men to meet Cahalane at her house, sharing her address because she did not believe there would be any violence. She stated she wanted to control the situation and did not feel it was fair to involve Cahalane's girlfriend. However, she acknowledged not being fully honest in her initial statement to police about the attempted kidnapping and her knowledge of it.
The jury heard that both Cahalane and Frost made threats against each other, with Frost saying he would "blow him up", "melt his face off", "cut his fingers off", and "break his legs". Cahalane reportedly threatened to do the same to Frost's baby's mother. Wilson expressed that no one expected the acid attack, viewing it as mere anger and frustration from Frost.
Defendants and Charges
The defendants on trial include Paris Wilson, 35, of Plymouth, and others from London and Plymouth. Seven are charged with Cahalane's murder or manslaughter, while five face charges related to attempted kidnapping and grievous bodily harm from an incident on January 19, 2025. All except one are also charged with participating in the activities of an organised crime group, including drug supply and debt enforcement. All ten defendants deny the charges, and the trial continues.
