Father of four Francie O'Brien is charged with making an unwanted demand with menaces for €100,000 from a Mr Michael Heelan at Tullyvaragh Lower in Carrickmacross on April 27th last year.

The 70-year-old with an address at Corwillan, Latton, Castleblayney, was remanded on bail to appear before Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Criminal Court on November 12th.

Mr O’Brien was a member of the Seanad from 1989 to 2011.