Courts / Dublin / Report
Dublin playwright asked to use voice skills to extort money, court hears
Summary
James Gantley, a 62-year-old Dublin playwright, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding money with menaces from DX Ireland staff between October 11 and November 11, 2011. The court heard that Gantley was recruited for his voice characterisation skills to act as a "spokesperson" in an extortion scheme following the theft of a DX van containing legal documents, including NAMA files. He phoned DX staff and Managing Director Kevin Galligan, claiming the documents would be destroyed unless €100,000 was paid. Although Gantley admitted to the charges, he stated he hoped to make "a few bob" but received nothing. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence, suspended in full. The Judge described the case as a "close run thing" but ruled that an immediate custodial sentence would be unjust. He noted that the method of demanding money through menaces regarding legal documents was baffling. Gantley, who has ten previous convictions dating back to 1993, was identified via a recorded phone call where he haggled the demand between €50,000 and €100,000. His defence counsel highlighted his ill health, role as sole carer for his wife, and his description of the behaviour as "stupid."
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin playwright asked to use voice skills to extort money, court hears. Charges or matters: demanding money with menaces from DX staff between October 11 and November 11, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 11 Incident
- November 11, 2011 Incident
- October 5, 2011 Incident
- February 2012 Incident
- 2015-02-09 Publication
Why: (Photo: Collins) A Dublin playwright was asked to join a criminal operation to extort money from a business because he was good at voice characterisations, a court has heard. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: demanding money with menaces from DX staff between October 11 and November 11, 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five year sentence, suspended in full and said that it was "a close run thing" but it would be unjust to impose an immediate custodial sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
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