Former massage parlour owner claims he was severely beaten

THE former owner of two massage parlours claimed yesterday he was dragged from his bedroom and severely beaten and his family were threatened in the name of the IRA to get him to make cash payments of up to 12,700.

John O’Connor yesterday told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that masked men broke into his home in Togher in Cork city; a pistol was pointed at him in a supermarket car park, and he was beaten up at his home in Macroom. Edward Buckley of Manor Hill, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and now of Park Road, Muskerry Estate, Ballincollig, is accused of demanding £4,000 with menaces from Mr O’Connor in the name of the IRA between April and June 1999, demanding £10,000 while threatening to harm Mr O’Connor’s children, assault causing harm to Mr O’Connor on February 5, 2000, possession of cocaine at Togher Road on October 31, 1999, robbing Catherine Deasy of £10,000 at Grenville, Lissarda, Macroom, Co Cork, on February 5 and possession of a shotgun with intent to demand money with menaces at Grenville, on February 5. Buckley denies all six counts.

Mr O’Connor denied a suggestion by Tom Creed, for the defence, that he had a tape of a man having sex with one of his (Mr O’Connor’s) employees, “a prostitute,” and the video was for the purpose of blackmail. Mr O’Connor replied: “If that was correct, I am sure the guards would be on to me.”