Extortion charges for IRA accused

A Dublin man already charged with IRA membership was further charged with extortion at the Special Criminal Court today.

David Dodrill (aged 30), of Plunkett Avenue, Finglas was charged with demanding that Giulio Patriarca pay €5,000 or have his legs broken, at the Lidl supermarket car park at North Road, Finglas on July 13.

Earlier this month he was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on July 13 last.

Detective Garda Eileen Keogh, Special Detective Unit, gave evidence that she told Dodrill in the precincts of the court that the DPP had directed that he should be charged with extortion, a non-scheduled offence.

Objecting to bail, Detective Inspector Bill Hanrahan, SDU, said that he had confidential information that if Dodrill was freed on bail he would interfere with a witness in the case.

He said that Dodrill was arrested during an SDU operation against members of the IRA.

The Detective Inspector said that at the time of his arrest, Dodrill was found to have €1,700 in notes and €300 in cash which had been taken from the injured party.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne, said that the court had heard evidence that a witness could be in danger if Dodrill was freed on bail.

The court remanded Dodrill in custody until October 7 next.