Man denies bid to blackmail former FF councillor

A former Fianna Fáil councillor who claims he was blackmailed has told a jury he does not recall cocaine at a party in Blanchardstown in Dublin in 2006.

Wesley Higgins of Dundaniel Road, Kilmore, Coolock denies attempting to extort €5,000 from Liam Kelly by threatening to give pictures of the politician allegedly taking cocaine to a newspaper.

The pictures were printed in the Sunday World, with former Dublin city councillor Kelly today describing them as depicting as some evidence of a white powdery substance in a grainy photograph..

Mr Kelly said he does not recollect snorting cocaine at the party in Blanchardstown in August 2006 but may have blacked out.

He said he accepted an invitation to the party because he was an alcoholic and “would have gone anywhere for more drink".

Mr Kelly told the jury that Mr Higgins left a message the next night and told him the female they were with at the party had taken photographs and wanted €5,000.

He said he ignored further messages threatening to go the newspapers and was confronted on his way to a function at the Mansion House by a Sunday World reporter who showed photos of him allegedly taking cocaine.

The trial continues.