A FORMER local election candidate has been released on bail and sureties totalling €20,000 after being charged with directing criminal activities.
Declan Jordan (33) was appearing before Letterkenny District Court today.
The defendant of Foxes Glen, Milford, appeared via videolink from Castlerea Prison.
Court documents state that Jordan is charged that on August 3, 2022, at First Choice Tyres, Dry Arch Business Park, Letterkenny, with a view to making a gain for himself or others and with the intent to cause a loss to another, made an unwanted demand of payment from a man with menaces.
He faces a similar charge of demanding monies with menace from the same man at another address in Letterkenny on a date unknown in 2022.
Both offences are contrary to Section 17 of the Criminal Justice Act (Public Order) 1999 as amended by Section 22 of Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008.
The defendant also faces a charge that between an unknown date in the middle of 2022 and February 12, 2025, he directed the activities of a criminal organisation, both within and outside of the state.
Such an offence is contrary to Section 71 (A) of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as inserted by section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009.
He first appeared before Letterkenny District Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to appear before the court again the following day.
Due to an ongoing legal-aid dispute, Jordan’s solicitor Rory O’Brien is not participating, but spoke on Tuesday’s sitting to confirm that a High Court legal aid application was being processed.
Judge Emile Daly remanded him in custody to return to court today.
During today’s sitting, the accused again appeared before the court via videolink from Castlerea Prison.
Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that it was the State’s position that Jordan should remain in custody until October 12.
However, Rory O’Brien confirmed that the bail application of €10,000 had been granted via the High Court in Dublin.
Additionally, Jordan’s independent surety, Ms McGinley, told the court that she understood that €10,000 will be frozen in her account by the court.
She also confirmed that she understood the bail conditions, and that if Jordan breaches the conditions, the cash will be removed from her account by the court.
Garda Sergeant Doyle asked Ms McGinley if she had ever acted as independent surety before, to which she responded she had not.
Judge Daly granted that Jordan be released, but ordered he return to Letterkenny District Court on October 12.
