Jury still out in IRA blackmail plot trial

The jury trying two former IRA prisoners for an alleged blackmail plot against a couple of businessmen began its third day of deliberations today.

Ronald McCartney, aged 55, who attempted to murder three policeman in the mid-1970s, and Nick Mullen, aged 60, once alleged to have been a “quartermaster” for an IRA active service unit, are said to have warned the men to hand over £150,000 (€167,000) each “or face the consequences”, London’s Southwark Crown Court has heard.