A woman who alleged she was threatened by a man described as a leading member of a criminal gang attempted to withdraw her statement out of "fear and intimidation", a court has heard.
The evidence was heard at Limerick District Court yesterday where Paul Crawford (32), O'Malley Park, Limerick, was appearing on a charge of threatening to kill Elizabeth Sparling in O'Malley Park earlier this week.
It is alleged he made the threat just hours after his brother, Noel Crawford (40), was murdered outside his parents' home last Monday morning.
Defence solicitor Ted McCarthy said he was applying for bail for his client on the grounds that Ms Sparling was no longer in fear of his client.
It was the second time this week that Mr Crawford sought bail before Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick District Court.
Ms Sparling told the court yesterday she now "genuinely believed" that she had nothing to fear from Mr Crawford or his family, whom she had known all her life.
Ms Sparling said she was "totally stressed out" and under severe pressure when she made her statement to gardaí last Monday in which she alleged she was terrified after the threat was made.
Det Garda Dave Burke, who, it is claimed, heard the threat being made, told the court he was concerned over intimidation in this case.
He described Mr Crawford as a leading member of the McCarthy Dundon gang which is involved in a feud in which tensions are running high.
"In my view Paul Crawford and his gang have caused such fear in the community that decent people like Ms Sparling, who has never been in court before, feels she has to come down here and withdraw her statement," said Det Garda Burke.
He feared that Ms Sparling's life was now in danger and that she was afraid that she or her family might be injured if she did not withdraw her statement.
The court heard that Ms Sparling's home has been shot at five times and that seven shots were fired into her house last Monday morning, just hours after Noel Crawford was murdered in the same estate.
"She has been bullied by the McCarthy Dundons to withdraw her statement," Det Garda Burke added.
Judge Tom O'Donnell, who refused bail in the case last Monday, said he had concerns about the matter and from the evidence he was satisfied to maintain his refusal to allow bail.
The judge also refused to make an order allowing Mr Crawford an opportunity to attend his brother's funeral on compassionate grounds.
He said this was a matter for the prison authorities and for the Department of Justice.
Judge O'Donnell remanded Mr Crawford in custody until January 4th, when he is due to appear before Limerick District Court again.