Extortion accused refused bail

Extortion accused refused bail

Bail was refused at the High Court in Belfast

A County Antrim man alleged to have tried to intimidate a builder into handing over £3,000 "protection money" has been refused bail at the High Court in Belfast.

Norman Logan, of Beechland Drive in Lisburn, denies demanding money from the builder for prisoners from the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.

A prosecution lawyer told the court on Tuesday that the builder was approached by two men asking for money for the Loyalist Welfare Association, which police believed was a front for the UVF.

They left a telephone number and name, which the builder gave to the police, who mounted an undercover operation and arranged to meet a man in Sprucefield car park.

The police recorded several phone calls in which the accused asked for £3,000 to provide security on the building site. At the car park meeting it is alleged he said it was not negotiable.

"He gave the impression he was in charge of a potentially large paramilitary group," said a prosecution lawyer.

A defence solicitor said his client had intended to provide security at the building site close to his home with the help of his Alsation dog and that the money would have gone to him and no organisation.

"He is far from being a person who is in charge of a paramilitary organisation," he said.

Mr Justice Coghlin refused bail because of what he described as a risk to the public.