Businessman tells court of threatening phone calls

A Gorey businessman has told Wexford Circuit Criminal Court that he received two telephone calls from a man threatening to kidnap and then kill his son, unless he handed over sums of cash totalling €7,000.

Lorcan Byrne of Lorcan Byrne Interiors, Bridge Corner, Gorey, was giving evidence in the trial of Ivan O’Connor of Arklow Road, Gorey, who has pleaded not guilty to three separate charges.

O’Connor pleaded not guilty before Judge Cormac Quinn to making two unwarranted demands with menace for sums totalling €2,500 and €4,500 respectively. O’Connor has also pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to Lorcan Byrne Interiours in February 2016 before a jury of seven men and five women.

Lorcan Byrne in evidence told the court that he received a telephone call on February 1 2016 from an unidentified male. Mr Byrne told Prosecuting Counsel Ms Sinead Gleeson the man on the phone demanded €2,500 in cash, and threatened to kidnap Mr Byrne’s son if he did not pay the money.

Mr Byrne said the man on the phone did not identify himself, only saying that he was from a drugs gang. The man on the phone claimed that Mr Byrne’s son was selling drugs and that he wanted money. After the call, Mr Byrne went to Gorey Garda Station to report the incident. Mr Byrne added that the telephone number used was recorded on his phone.

Two days later, said Mr Byrne, the window of his business premises was smashed, while he also received a second telephone call from an unidentified male.

Mr Byrne said a man with a Gorey accent demanded €4,500 and threatened to shoot his son if the money was not paid. This second phone call was also reported to gardai.

Mr. John Peart, SC instructed by Lana Doherty, Solicitor, appears for the defendant.

The trial continues today (Tuesday).