Jim Mansfield jnr remanded on bail in conspiracy case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Businessman Jim Mansfield jnr was remanded on continuing bail in the Special Criminal Court in a case involving charges of conspiracy to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The proceedings were reported on 3 December 2019.

Mansfield, then 52, was charged with conspiring with one or more people to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on an unknown date between 1 January and 30 June 2015. The charge was brought under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

He was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, intending to pervert public justice in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne at Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan between 9 and 12 June 2015.

Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL told the court that Mansfield was a working man with a €6 million High Court judgment against him. Shane Costello SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the State was not opposing the legal aid application. Mr Justice Paul Coffey granted legal aid and agreed to assign senior and junior defence counsel.

Mr Justice Coffey said there were difficulties setting a trial date and adjourned the case to 9 December 2019. A trial date was expected to be set then. Mansfield had previously been admitted to bail on 3 July on an independent surety of €10,000. Conditions included signing on weekly at Lucan Garda station between 9am and 9pm and not leaving the country. A book of evidence was served on him on the same date.