Retired senator charged with demanding €100,000

A retired Fianna Fáil senator yesterday appeared, along with two others, at a sitting of a District Court on a charge of demanding money by menaces.

Francis O’Brien, aged 70 and a father-of-four from Corwillan, Latton, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was charged with making an unwarranted demand for €100,000 from Michael Heelan, with menaces.

He was remanded on bail to May 22 for likely service of a book of evidence.

Mr O’Brien, who was in public life as a county councillor from 1979 until 2003, was also a member of Seanad Éireann from 1989 to 2011.

Two others, Cavan farmer Michael Marron, aged 56, from Taghart North, Shercock, and Raymond McCaughey, aged 57, a businessman from Drumganus, Broomfield, Co Monaghan, also faced the same charge as Mr O’Brien, of attempting to make gain for themselves or others, by making an unwarranted demand for money at Tullyvaragh Lower, Carrickmacross, on Apr 27 last year.

All three men were charged separately before Judge Sean MacBride at Carrickmacross District Court.

They were also, after separate applications by gardaí, remanded on bail while a book of evidence was being prepared.

The three men were each remanded on bail of €5,000, directed to surrender their passports and report weekly at Carrickmacross Garda Station.

The former senator, a former chairman of Monaghan Co Council, was represented by Castleblaney solicitor Seamus Mallon. Supt Gerry Russell made the application.

Insp Fergus Treanor dealt with Marron, represented by solicitor Gerry Jones, while evidence of the arrest of McCaughey was presented by Det Garda John Ogle. The accused was represented by solicitor Patrick Farry.

Judge MacBride adjourned applications for legal aid for the three men until the next hearing.