The case of an alleged attempt by two men to obtain €80,000 from a Co Monaghan family who live in an isolated rural area was heard at the District Court in Carrickmacross yesterday.
Both men were remanded in custody with consent to bail on charges of demanding money with menaces.
Patrick Byrne (33), Leege, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, and Joseph Brady (22), Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co Louth, were charged with demanding money by menaces from Patrick Martin at Drumgurra, Corduff, Co Monaghan, on May 26th last.
Mr Brady faced an additional charge of using an imitation firearm with intent to obtain cash by menaces.
Garda Sgt David Forde, Carrickmacross, gave evidence of arresting Mr Brady at the Dundalk housing estate where he lived. The arrest followed a major investigation extending from Co Monaghan to Co Louth in the wake of the incident in which the Martin family was terrorised in an effort to get them to hand over cash.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had ordered that in view of the seriousness of the charges, both accused should be sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge William Hamill granted bail applications on behalf of Mr Brady and Mr Byrne, which he fixed in sums of €1,000 personal bail, with independent bail of €2,000, involving either one or two sureties.