IRA 'threatened to kill smuggler'

IRA blackmailers threatened to kill an alleged cigarette smuggler unless he paid them £300,000, a court heard today.

IRA blackmailers threatened to kill an alleged cigarette smuggler unless he paid them £300,000 (€436,152), a court heard today.

Self-employed builder Richard O’Donnell, 56, will be sentenced next week after admitting his part in the racket.

He was arrested by police who secretly recorded telephone calls between the paramilitary gang and their victim.

But O’Donnell, who has already served a prison sentence for possessing explosives, merely acted as a go-between, his defence stressed.

Belfast Crown Court heard how three men first called with the target, known as Witness A, at premises near Downpatrick, Co Down in September 2004.

They demanded cash from him within five days.

“If he failed to pay back the money he would be put in a hole,” Gordon Kerr QC, prosecuting, said.

He was handed a mobile phone to stay in contact with the gang, but this was bugged as part of a covert police operation.

After the original £300,000 demand was reduced to £100,000 (€145,385), Witness A was instructed to go to a meeting in Castlewellan, Co Down.

Mr Kerr said he was warned by one of the gang: “Make sure the boys in blue aren’t there. If they are, on your head be it.”

O’Donnell arrived at Witness A’s offices to take him to the rendezvous, only to be told he wasn’t prepared to go.

Within days, however, the defendant phoned him saying they needed to talk urgently.

O’Donnell, of Old Course Road, Downpatrick, insisted he was just a message-boy for the IRA.

When they met again O’Donnell told the target to make a contribution to the paramilitary organisation, the court heard.

In return he was assured the IRA would watch his back.

Soon after O’Donnell was stopped in his van and arrested in possession of the cash.

But defence QC Barry McDonald described Witness A as a local smuggler who had failed to honour obligations made to associates.

“He’s not a local businessman in any legitimate sense,” the barrister said.

“His difficulties with these associates gave rise to a dispute about the proceeds of contraband.”

He added: “Witness A seems to be an individual who has effectively exploited this opportunity to be given protection by the State.”

Mr McDonald insisted his client was not involved in any crimes that led to the dispute between Witness A and the other blackmailers.

O’Donnell served a 12-year jail sentence, but since his release in 1987 he has become involved with local youth and community groups.

At one stage in transcripts of conversations Witness A told him: “This is going to wreck me. I know you’re only the middle man.”

After Mr Kerr stressed there was no evidence linking the blackmail target to illegal operations, Mr McDonald replied: “It’s quite apparent from any sensible reading of the transcripts that Witness A is deeply involved in matters he shouldn’t have been involved in.”

Judge Kevin Finnegan adjourned sentencing to next Wednesday.