Three men and a woman are to stand trial on charges related to the alleged blackmail of a male, who it is claimed paid out in excess of £20,000.
Paul Arthur Maye (56) from Sallys Wood, Irvinestown is accused of demanding cash from the injured party with menaces on four occasions, the first of which was under the guise of payment to “release a lorry held at docks.”
He is also accused along with Patrick Thomas McDonagh (30) of Tummery Road, Irvinestown of fraud by false representation, by telling the injured party £13,000 already paid out would be returned if he in turn paid them £14,000 and doing so with menaces.
The other defendants are Lisnaskea couple Christopher Francis McGovern (42) and Sandra Morrison (51) from of Trasna Way are jointly charged with demanding £5000 from the injured party with menaces.
Overall it is claimed the combined incidents occurred on various dates between September 2017 and January 2018.
While Fermanagh Magistrates Court was previously advised the case would be moving to trial, lawyers for the accused announced their intention to challenge some of the prosecution evidence.
The committal hearing took the form of a preliminary investigation in which the injured party and two police officers were cross-exanimated on aspects of their evidence.
Due to the nature of these hearings, the content cannot be published at this time.
However, after this concluded, barristers for all four defendants contended on the basis of what was disclosed, their respective clients should not be returned for trial.
But District Judge Steven Keown rejected their argument and held the prosecution case “had not fallen short”. He ruled there is satisfied there is a case to answer against all defendants, and any evidence which was disputed is a matter for the crown court.
The committal procedure went ahead during which the defendants chose not to call witnesses or give evidence on their own behalf.
Judge Keown remanded them on existing bail to appear before Dungannon Crown Court for formal arraignment next month.
Before concluding, all four defence barristers requested Legal Aid was certified to cover their work for the preliminary investigation, but Judge Keown refused advising he did not believe it was merited.