Two men have been remanded on bail following their appearance before a special sitting of Cavan District Court on charges of extortion.
Gerard Macken, 29, from Bellingham Green, Castlebellingham in Co Louth, and Declan Murray, 39, from Balbriggan in Co Dublin, both appeared before the court this afternoon charged under Section 17 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.
They were charged with demanding money with menaces.
Supt Noel Cunningham said gardaí were objecting to bail on a number of grounds.
These included the seriousness of the alleged offences and that threats had been made to witnesses.
During the course of those threats the paramilitary group the INLA was mentioned, he said.
After hearing from counsel for the accused, Judge Cormac Dunne remanded the two men in custody with consent to bail to appear before Harristown District Court on 1 June.
In the case of Mr Macken bail was set at €500 in his own bond with an independent surety of €5,000 cash.
For Mr Murray his bail was also set at €500 with an independent surety of €1,500 in cash.
Several conditions were also imposed on the accused as part of their bail terms.
Both men were ordered not to have any contact, direct or indirect, with the alleged victim or his family.
Both have to sign on daily at garda stations, surrender their passports and both have to stay out of Co Monaghan.
