This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7818170.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man shocked by 'IRA blackmail' | Man shocked by 'IRA blackmail' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A former Sinn Fein supporter has told a court of being left "shocked and devastated" after becoming the victim of an alleged blackmail plot. | A former Sinn Fein supporter has told a court of being left "shocked and devastated" after becoming the victim of an alleged blackmail plot. |
| The businessman, who cannot be named, said he was accused of betraying the IRA and given a week to pay £150,000. | The businessman, who cannot be named, said he was accused of betraying the IRA and given a week to pay £150,000. |
| The 39-year-old father-of-two and another man were allegedly blackmailed by former IRA prisoners Nick Mullen, 60, and Ronald McCartney, 59. | The 39-year-old father-of-two and another man were allegedly blackmailed by former IRA prisoners Nick Mullen, 60, and Ronald McCartney, 59. |
| Both deny the charges against them at London's Southwark Crown Court. | Both deny the charges against them at London's Southwark Crown Court. |
| A third man, Louis O'Hara, 43, from Loughton, Essex, also denies two counts of conspiracy to blackmail between 1 January and 16 April 2008. | A third man, Louis O'Hara, 43, from Loughton, Essex, also denies two counts of conspiracy to blackmail between 1 January and 16 April 2008. |
| All three are accused of "conspiring together and with others to make, with a view to gain for themselves or another, unwarranted demands for payment of monies in the sum of £150,000 with menaces". | All three are accused of "conspiring together and with others to make, with a view to gain for themselves or another, unwarranted demands for payment of monies in the sum of £150,000 with menaces". |
| 'Shocked' | 'Shocked' |
| The businessman told the jury he was accused of using the IRA's name to raise millions of pounds for his own gain. | The businessman told the jury he was accused of using the IRA's name to raise millions of pounds for his own gain. |
| He insisted there was "absolutely no truth" in the allegation and said he was left "completely devastated, shocked and confused... because for the last so many years of my life I had assisted Sinn Fein and had known many Sinn Fein members very well". I took that to mean there would be nowhere me and my family would find safety 39-year-old businessmanAlleged blackmail victim | He insisted there was "absolutely no truth" in the allegation and said he was left "completely devastated, shocked and confused... because for the last so many years of my life I had assisted Sinn Fein and had known many Sinn Fein members very well". I took that to mean there would be nowhere me and my family would find safety 39-year-old businessmanAlleged blackmail victim |
| He said he had become involved with the Wolfe Tone Society in London, described as a "support group for Sinn Fein", after moving from Belfast to London in his early twenties. | He said he had become involved with the Wolfe Tone Society in London, described as a "support group for Sinn Fein", after moving from Belfast to London in his early twenties. |
| His duties included "organising vehicles and commissioning drivers" for "senior party members and officials," he said. | His duties included "organising vehicles and commissioning drivers" for "senior party members and officials," he said. |
| Prosecutors say the defendants issued threats to their alleged victims via telephone calls, letters and visits. | Prosecutors say the defendants issued threats to their alleged victims via telephone calls, letters and visits. |
| In one letter, read to the court on Tuesday, they were allegedly told: "If you involve the police or anyone else then Fort Knox will not be safe for either you or your extended family." | In one letter, read to the court on Tuesday, they were allegedly told: "If you involve the police or anyone else then Fort Knox will not be safe for either you or your extended family." |
| When asked what he took this to mean, the businessman said: "I took it... there was a very serious threat to me and my family. | When asked what he took this to mean, the businessman said: "I took it... there was a very serious threat to me and my family. |
| "I took that to mean there would be nowhere me and my family would find safety." | "I took that to mean there would be nowhere me and my family would find safety." |
| The businessman told the court he received a call in March last year from someone with a Northern Ireland accent. | The businessman told the court he received a call in March last year from someone with a Northern Ireland accent. |
| He said the caller identified himself as "a representative of Oglaigh na h-Eireann", Irish for the IRA. The name "P O'Neill", the group's nom de guerre, was also mentioned. | He said the caller identified himself as "a representative of Oglaigh na h-Eireann", Irish for the IRA. The name "P O'Neill", the group's nom de guerre, was also mentioned. |
| "He went on to say, 'We know what you have been up to'," the businessman told the court. | "He went on to say, 'We know what you have been up to'," the businessman told the court. |
| When he tried to ask questions, he said he was told: "Listen, if you don't be quiet people will be round to see you."Ronald McCartney was convicted of attempted murder in 1976 | When he tried to ask questions, he said he was told: "Listen, if you don't be quiet people will be round to see you."Ronald McCartney was convicted of attempted murder in 1976 |
| He added: "At the end of the call all I could think of was my family, my children. | He added: "At the end of the call all I could think of was my family, my children. |
| "I thought it was a very serious threat. I was confused, shocked and decided to call my friends. I also spoke to the police." | "I thought it was a very serious threat. I was confused, shocked and decided to call my friends. I also spoke to the police." |
| Three days later, a letter arrived which referred to a "prolonged and intensive" IRA investigation which had "established" that he and his business partner had abused the "position of trust" he had once enjoyed in the "Republican Movement". | Three days later, a letter arrived which referred to a "prolonged and intensive" IRA investigation which had "established" that he and his business partner had abused the "position of trust" he had once enjoyed in the "Republican Movement". |
| Attempted murder | Attempted murder |
| Mark Heyward, prosecuting, told the court on Tuesday that the defendants claimed the two men had raised £6m using the name of the IRA and they the men "would have to contribute in the sums demanded or face the consequences". | |
| He said the letters and calls were "intended to instil sufficient reaction, sufficient fear" to force them to hand over the money. | He said the letters and calls were "intended to instil sufficient reaction, sufficient fear" to force them to hand over the money. |
| The jury has been told some aspects of the defendants' backgrounds. | The jury has been told some aspects of the defendants' backgrounds. |
| Mr McCartney was convicted at Winchester Crown Court in 1976 of the attempted murders of three policemen. | Mr McCartney was convicted at Winchester Crown Court in 1976 of the attempted murders of three policemen. |
| He was also found guilty of conspiracy to cause explosions and firearms charged, all of which, the prosecution said, related "to his activities as a part of his membership of the IRA". | He was also found guilty of conspiracy to cause explosions and firearms charged, all of which, the prosecution said, related "to his activities as a part of his membership of the IRA". |
| Mr Mullen, meanwhile, was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in June 1990. | Mr Mullen, meanwhile, was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in June 1990. |
| His conviction was later quashed on appeal. | His conviction was later quashed on appeal. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |