Published Thursday, 22 October 2009
James McConville, whose mother Jean was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA, is accused of blackmail, false imprisonment, threats to kill, attempted intimidation and assault.
Prosecutors said McConville, 43, from Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, was charged after the alleged victim jumped from a moving car and ran to a police station in Clogher, Co Tyrone.
Crown counsel Tessa Kitson claimed this man had been at home with his children in Eskragh on July 25th when the accused, two other men and a woman arrived in a car. The alleged victim said McConville informed him that he owed £10,000 for an outstanding drugs debt and if it was not paid he would be shot in the head, the court heard.
"He was told that another car was nearby with guns and it was only a phone call away," Mrs Kitson said. "He was then told if the money was handed over that day he wouldn't be shot and his family would not be harmed. These threats all came from the applicant."
It was claimed that after the man failed to get the cash from relatives he was driven to the rear of a petrol station in Clogher and punched. After that the car went to his brother's house in a bid to get the money there, the court heard.
Opposing bail, Mrs Kitson told the court: "When the vehicle slowed down he removed his seat belt and jumped from the moving car and ran to Clogher police station."
The barrister also said it was alleged that two people were left behind with the man's wife and children while he went to get the money.
McConville was only arrested a month later as police were unable to locate him until then, she added.
Defence counsel Conor O'Kane confirmed that his client was the son of Jean McConville, a mother of ten abducted from her west Belfast home and killed by the IRA in 1972. Her body was secretly buried on a beach in Co Louth where it lay undiscovered for more than 30 years.
Mr O'Kane made the disclosure to support a submission that because of his client's public profile there was no reason for any attempt to evade the police. The barrister rejected the allegations against McConville, telling the court that he had sold a van to the alleged victim.
"The van then turned out to have finance on it. This applicant then arranged to meet with (the man) at his home."
Mr O'Kane contended that the meeting had been cordial, with all discussions about money carried out in broad daylight.
However, the application for High Court bail was dismissed when it emerged that McConville had not first sought to be released by a magistrate.