Man (39) refused bail over extortion and weapons charges

Tom Tuite

A 39-year-old Dublin man has been charged with extortion of a neighbour over an alleged debt and brandishing a flick knife and a bottle of ammonia as weapons.

Jason McCabe, with addresses in Churchwell Gardens, Belmayne, and Darndale, in the city's northside, faces charges related to a dispute in January 2025.

They include the production of a knife and a bottle of household ammonia during separate incidents, and demanding money with menaces from a man who was said to have been left in fear.

He was remanded in custody when he appeared at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Objecting to bail, Garda Marcus Ó Coistealbha said Mr McCabe made no reply when charged with the offences which allegedly happened from January 17 – 30 last.

The court heard that Mr McCabe accused the injured party of stealing €150 cash and €250 of crack cocaine from him. It was claimed that the first incident happened at the complainant's home and that the accused brandished a knife and attempted to stab the man.

The court heard the alleged injured party and his partner were forced to "retreat" into a bedroom where he was later found hiding in a wardrobe.

Garda Ó Coistealbha said there was CCTV footage of the man handing over €50 when he was approached later at a shop by another male, who allegedly told him, "Jason is after passing the debt to me".

The court heard that on another occasion, the accused, holding a plastic bottle labelled household ammonia, escorted the man to a post office to collect social welfare.

The man feared he was about to be subjected to an acid attack until a neighbour intervened.

The garda also said the accused had access to the same apartment building.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Kevin McCrave, the garda acknowledged that witnesses had not been brought to the hearing to be questioned.

The officer explained that they were genuinely terrified.

The barrister said his client could reside at another location and would comply with a range of conditions.

Pleading for bail, he submitted to Judge Michele Finan that the garda had delivered a narrative without witnesses, and their account could not be challenged.

Judge Finan said the garda outlined robust objections and denied bail.

McCabe was granted legal aid and will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.