TWO Drogheda men who falsely imprisoned teenagers and assaulted them after £600 worth of the drug ecstasy was lost have been given suspended sentences by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
One of the defendants, Patrick J. Coyle, of Marley's Court, was ordered to pay the final £25 of £1,000 compensation into Drogheda Garda station by 7 p.m. on Friday or have his sentence activated.
Judge Kieran O'Connor imposed a three-year sentence on Coyle and two years on his co accused, Patrick Judge, of Ballsgrove.
Det Garda Maureen McFadden gave a detailed account of how a cache of 41 ecstasy tablets was taken and hidden in a paper bag in a ditch.
The weather reduced the tablets to powder and McCann was annoyed at his loss.
The judge suspended the sentences on condition that the two men enter into bonds undertaking to remain out of trouble for three years. He warned Coyle he should be "very conscious" of his situation.
At an earlier hearing, Judge O'Connor was told the mother of one of the victims was threatened that the "big boys from Dublin" would get her unless she refunded the value of the drug to a man called Darren McCann.
She took out a £400 bank loan but it was never paid over, Det Garda Maureen McFadden said.
The woman's daughter and a male friend were forced into the back of a van and assaulted by McCann, Judge and Coyle while being interrogated about the tablets, which had been taken from another house.
Mr Judge (28), single and a father of one, and Coyle (26), married and a father of three, admitted they falsely imprisoned Naomi Farrell and Gareth Jein on July 24th, 1994.
Coyle further pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from Ms Irene Farrell on or about July 24th, 1994, with intent to steal it.
Their sentences were adjourned at various hearings to allow both men pay £1,000 compensation to their victims.
Mr Michael O'Higgins, for Mr Judge, said his client had already paid his £1,000.
Mr John Peart SC (with Ms Jeri Ward), for Coyle, said his client was working as a labourer at £30 a day. He had £75 of the remaining £100 of the compensation money in court, leaving £25 outstanding.
Judge O'Connor said it was ridiculous for Coyle not to have all the money paid by this time but he allowed him until Friday at 7 p.m. to do so.