Dundon refused bail ahead of violent disorder appeal

A Limerick criminal has been refused bail ahead of an appeal against the severity of his five-year sentence for violent disorder.

Gerard Dundon of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston was jailed over an incident in 2010 in which former nightclub owner Mark Heffernan was forced into a car chase after being approached by four men, two of whom were armed with hammers.

The Court of Criminal Appeal was told this episode followed a 17 month campaign of extortion against Mr Heffernan.

With remission, Gerard Dundon should be out of jail in nine months but his lawyers believe he received a comparatively heavier sentence at the Special Criminal Court than his co-accused.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has said it is impossible for them to form a view as they have no transcripts of the original hearings and this has left them 'blindfolded'.