Gardai have charged four men with assaults, threats to kill and extortion, as part of an operation targeting an "explosion" of drug debt intimidation offences.
Dublin District Court heard today that Operation Fógra, across the city’s northern region, has 30 ongoing investigations where individuals or households were targeted.
Outlining the background to the probe, Detective Garda Domhnall O'Connell said some of the debts were small, but others were more than €100,000 or involved “houses being remortgaged”. He said there was a “drug debt explosion” as debts were more difficult to recoup due to the covid-19 lockdown.
Today gardai in Ballymun arrested and charged four Dublin men: Charlie Cunningham, 24, of Kelly’s Bay Heights, Skerries, Sean Jones, 19, who has an address at Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, his stepfather David Savage, 30, of no fixed address but from north Dublin, and Ryan Keeley, 20, of Coultry Place, Ballymun.
Judge Treasa Kelly noted the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has tougher sentencing powers.
Two of the cases were unrelated, but the backgrounds were similar and stemmed from a Garda operation “targeting drug debt intimidation”.
Detective Garda O'Connell said the operation also investigated demands from relatives of people who supposedly owed money, and he objected to bail.
Pizza chef Charlie Cunningham is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and demanding money with menaces. The court heard he made no reply to the charges, and he met gardai by arrangement.
Detective Garda O’Connell alleged that on January 1, 2021, Mr Cunningham arrived at the home of an off duty garda in Donabate on the city's north side.
"There was a knock at the door, and he answered and was asked by the accused if a named individual lived at that address."
Judge Kelly heard that the off-duty officer told him the person named did not reside there and he had the wrong house. It was alleged Mr Cunningham went to leave but came back and "insisted he wanted to be paid" and "it would be better for everyone".
The court heard it was alleged he threatened to get people to come and "break in doors". At that point, the man told him he was an off duty garda, at which, it was claimed, "the accused challenged him to arrest him, and as he left said, 'now I know you are a guard, you're f******'.".
Detective Garda O’Connell said the officer's CCTV which has audio recorded the incident.
Questioned by defence solicitor Edward Bradbury, he accepted there had been no interaction between them since. The court heard he made no reply to the charges, and he met gardai by arrangement.
Sean Jones made no reply when gardai put four charges to him regarding two incidents.
He is accused of assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, demanding money with menaces, and producing an article during a dispute.
On January 1, 2021, the court heard, an injured party visited a friend in Ballymun, but the accused and another man entered the apartment uninvited. It was alleged the accomplice punched the man and that Mr Jones had a knife and "stabbed the injured party a number of times". He suffered "significant injuries", was hospitalised for 12 days and needed 28 stitches.
On February 13, 2021, Mr Jones allegedly went to Swords, to the home of a man, 60, with chronic health issues.
It was claimed Mr Jones accompanied by another accomplice, commented on his health and demanded €5,000, saying his son had a drug debt.
The other man threatened to smash up the house.
It was alleged Mr Jones threatened him that he "would be killed and be shot if he did not pay".
Defence solicitor Paddy McGarry said his client recently moved to Tallaght and now has a job. Mr Jones said he understood his bail terms.
His stepfather David Savage was charged with taking part in the assault with Mr Jones on January 1, 2021. He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody for a week. He replied, "no comment" when charged, the court heard.
Garda Jane Keegan said Ryan Keeley has five charges, two for threats to kill and three demands for money with menaces in March and April last year.
He met gardai by arrangement to be charged.
Judge Kelly heard claims he went to the home of a family of asylum seekers from Africa. He allegedly threatened to shoot their son if he did not pay a drug debt and that the family would be killed if they contacted gardai. They recorded him on a phone, it was alleged.
The following day, the court heard he allegedly threatened to shoot their son and "continued to say he would burn the house".
Gardai suspected he returned in April and repeated the demand. The family has since moved.
Despite objections, the judge granted bail to the three applicants.
However, she imposed strict terms. She warned them to have no contact with injured parties, provide gardai with contact phone numbers, notify them of address changes, stay away from areas where the offences happened, and sign on three days a week at their local garda stations.
Judge Kelly said they were very serious charges. She ordered them to appear again on June 24 to be served with books of evidence and returned for trial. The judge granted legal aid.
They have not yet indicated how they will plead.
Reporting by Tom Tuite
