23/05/2005

Four men in court over blackmail charge

Four men have appeared in court at the weekend charged with blackmail.

The charge relates to a planned operation by Organised Crime Squad Crime Operations in which a businessman was blackmailed in the Nutts Corner area of north Antrim on Wednesday 18th May.

During a number of follow up searches in North Belfast on the 18th and 20th, a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun, ammunition and a number of other items were recovered and removed for further examination.

All four men appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with blackmail.

Three also faced charges of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and one faced a charge of making threats to kill.

(MB/SP)

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