Three men who appeared in court today accused of terrorist crimes and an £8,000 blackmail plot in Co Derry have been remanded in custody.
The men were arrested last week during a major police operation against serious crime in Co Derry and Co Tyrone.
Jonathan Forrest (28), of Bushfield Mill, Park, and Patrick McGowan (44), of Learmount Road, Claudy, Co Derry, were each charged with making an unwarranted demand for £8,000 from a witness, known as A, between July 3rd and August 25th this year and of inviting a person to provide money or property for terrorist purposes.
Brian Conwell (30), of Gortscreagan Road, Park, faced the same allegations plus a third offence of threatening to kill the witness.
All of them denied any involvement in the alleged offences as they appeared at Derry magistrates' court. The defendants spoke only to confirm that they understood the charges during the 10-minute hearing.
A detective constable told the court that when the offences were put to him at Antrim police station, Mr Conwell replied: "I did not blackmail anyone." He also denied collecting money for any illegal organisation or being part of any outlawed group. "I have never threatened to kill anyone, especially not (witness's name)," he added.
Mr Forrest replied simply "no" to both charges, while Mr McGowan denied being part of any blackmail plot.
The detective told the court that when the terrorist funding charge was put to Mr McGowan he said: "The money had nothing to do with terrorism."
All three men were remanded in custody to appear again by video link on August 31st.