Two Limerick men have been convicted by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of breaking into a house in the city to extort money.
Nathan Killeen (21) and Niall Carey (23), both from Hyde Road, Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to trespassing at a house in Ballyclough Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, with intent to commit extortion on July 24th, 2010.
The court was told yesterday that early on that date, Seán Ryan was awoken by a commotion downstairs at his home. When he went down he found two men, one of whom he recognised as Killeen, in an altercation with his son Jonathan.
Mr Ryan said he and his son forced the two men out of the house but they returned a short time later. They behaved aggressively and threatened them and demanded €3,000, but this escalated to €10,000.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said the three-judge court was satisfied that the demand for money was made and that the two men had entered the house as trespassers.
Both men were remanded in custody for sentencing on July 22nd.