The prosecuting counsel in the case of eight Limerick men, accused of a number of alleged extortion related offences, has told the Special Criminal court in Dublin that their trials had been moved there because the “ordinary courts” were “inadequate to secure the administration of justice.”
State counsel Tom O’ Connell made the comments as eight men appeared before the three judge, non-jury court, charged with a number of various offences between them, including threatening to kill or cause serious harm, violent disorder and demanding money with menace at dates as far back as October 2008.
During the brief formality hearing, the charges against the men, who appeared in court pairs, were laid before the jusges.
The men were arrested by Gardai during pre-panned searches on a number of properties in Weston and Dooradoyle last April.
The court adjourned the case for a further hearing on October 7th next.
