Grandad who was 'brawn' in violent gang who claimed to be dissidents is jailed

A man has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for his role in a violent extortion attack on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in 2017. Anthony Finglas, aged 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from the victim at Cornamucklagh, Omeath, on December 2, 2017. The court heard that the businessman was lured to the location under false pretences, then attacked with iron bars by multiple assailants who claimed to be dissident republicans. The victim was falsely imprisoned in a car boot and subjected to threats against his family. He was severely beaten, suffering multiple head wounds requiring stitches. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Finglas to four years and nine months, backdated to February, with the final six months suspended on condition of a bond for good behaviour. The judge noted Finglas was "the brawn" of the operation and acknowledged he had intervened to prevent further violence during the attack.