Blackmailers sent Martin compromising video of respected FF councillor

MICHEáL Martin was sent a video of a midlands-based Fianna Fáil councillor in a compromising position after he was blackmailed by an extortion gang, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

The Fianna Fáil leader received the video despite the desperate councillor already paying the West African-based gang €12,000 to stop them releasing it.

The revelation comes ahead of the Fianna Fáil think-in in Longford this week, which the well-respected councillor was expected to attend.

He met the woman online and engaged in a series of emails before she asked him to send her a video of himself. He was later contacted by a man demanding money and threatening to post the video online. This type of crime is called catfishing.

He paid €12,000, but the gang demanded more, and when he refused, the embarrassing video was then sent to a number of recipients through social media, including Mr Martin and a commemoration group based in the councillor’s local area.

Gardaí believe the gang is based in the Ivory Coast and detectives are working with Interpol on the matter. Sources said the councillor is ‘traumatised’, but has employed a high-powered legal team to ensure he is not named publicly.

Mr Martin’s chief of staff Deirdre Gillane declined to comment, as did the Fianna Fáil’s director of communications Pat McPartland. They both said it is a personal matter and they will not be commenting.