Former senator charged with demanding €100,000

A former senator was granted bail after he appeared in court today, along with two other men, on a charge of demanding €100,000 with menaces.

Francie O’Brien (70) a former Fianna Fail senator, of Corwillan, Latton, Castleblayney; Michael Marron (56) from Taghart, Shercock, and Raymond McCaughey (55), of Drumgannus, Broomfield, Monaghan, were remanded on their own cash bail of €5,000 to appear at Carrickmacross District Court on May 22.

They are all charged that on April 27, 2012, at Tullyvaragh Lower, Carrickmacross, they demanded €100,000 from Michael Heelan with menaces, contrary to the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.

Conditions of their bail are that they hand over their passports, have no contact with any witnesses and sign on weekly at their local Garda station.