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| Blackmail money 'thrown in fire' | Blackmail money 'thrown in fire' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man tried to burn £10,000 when police raided a house in Carrickfergus last week, the High Court has been told. | A man tried to burn £10,000 when police raided a house in Carrickfergus last week, the High Court has been told. |
| Opposing bail applications by two men remanded in custody at the weekend, a Crown lawyer said: "He threw the money into a fire and some was destroyed." | Opposing bail applications by two men remanded in custody at the weekend, a Crown lawyer said: "He threw the money into a fire and some was destroyed." |
| Gary Riddell, 25, of Rockfergus Crescent in the town, is charged with demanding £10,000 with menaces and soliciting money for terrorism. | Gary Riddell, 25, of Rockfergus Crescent in the town, is charged with demanding £10,000 with menaces and soliciting money for terrorism. |
| George Kennedy, 43, of The Hollies, is charged with having a pistol. | George Kennedy, 43, of The Hollies, is charged with having a pistol. |
| He is also accused of possessing five rounds of ammunition without a certificate. | He is also accused of possessing five rounds of ammunition without a certificate. |
| The man who allegedly threw the money onto the fire has not applied for bail. | The man who allegedly threw the money onto the fire has not applied for bail. |
| Crown lawyer Amanda Brady said the charges related to the blackmail of a man between 4 December and last Thursday. | |
| She said two men arrived at the man's home and alleged he was a drug dealer, a claim which he denied. | She said two men arrived at the man's home and alleged he was a drug dealer, a claim which he denied. |
| 'Taxed' | 'Taxed' |
| They told him he was being "taxed" and had to pay £10,000 or be forced to leave the country, the court heard. | They told him he was being "taxed" and had to pay £10,000 or be forced to leave the country, the court heard. |
| Ms Brady said that one day later, the windows of the man's home were smashed. | |
| The court heard further contact with the alleged blackmailers was recorded and on 19 December, the man went to a house at Maple Gardens, Carrickfergus, where he met a third accused, who has not applied for bail. | The court heard further contact with the alleged blackmailers was recorded and on 19 December, the man went to a house at Maple Gardens, Carrickfergus, where he met a third accused, who has not applied for bail. |
| Ms Brady said the £10,000 was handed over but police arrived, and the third defendant tried to destroy the money by throwing it into a fire. | |
| She said Mr Kennedy was arrested shortly afterwards, and police found a handgun and ammunition during a search of his home. | She said Mr Kennedy was arrested shortly afterwards, and police found a handgun and ammunition during a search of his home. |
| 'Criminal activity' | 'Criminal activity' |
| The court heard Mr Riddell had been seen acting suspiciously in the Maple Gardens area and when police searched his car they found two mobile phones, one of which had allegedly been used to communicate with the blackmailed man. | The court heard Mr Riddell had been seen acting suspiciously in the Maple Gardens area and when police searched his car they found two mobile phones, one of which had allegedly been used to communicate with the blackmailed man. |
| "Police believe this operation was carried out on behalf of the UDA and it is feared that if these men are released they would continue with their criminal activity," the prosecution lawyer said. | "Police believe this operation was carried out on behalf of the UDA and it is feared that if these men are released they would continue with their criminal activity," the prosecution lawyer said. |
| A lawyer for Mr Riddell said he had not been identified by the victim and was protesting his innocence. | A lawyer for Mr Riddell said he had not been identified by the victim and was protesting his innocence. |
| "No specific role has been attributed to him over the month-long period when this incident took place," he said. | "No specific role has been attributed to him over the month-long period when this incident took place," he said. |
| Mr Kennedy's lawyer said the house where the firearms were found was occupied by him only two to three days a week. | Mr Kennedy's lawyer said the house where the firearms were found was occupied by him only two to three days a week. |
| The lawyer said it had been broken into and the firearms could have been put there by others. | The lawyer said it had been broken into and the firearms could have been put there by others. |
| Lord Justice Girvan said there was evidence that Mr Riddell was prepared to act in a criminal conspiracy and refused him bail. | Lord Justice Girvan said there was evidence that Mr Riddell was prepared to act in a criminal conspiracy and refused him bail. |
| He released Mr Kennedy on condition he lived well away from Carrickfergus and he was barred from entering the town. | He released Mr Kennedy on condition he lived well away from Carrickfergus and he was barred from entering the town. |