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A middle-aged man has appeared in Cork District Court charged with allegedly making extremely offensive and threatening phone calls to the family of Cameron Blair, 20, who was murdered in the city earlier this year.
Noel Barry, of Cherry Tree Road in Cork City, stood before Judge James McNulty, where he was charged with crimes under Section 13 of the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951.
The evidence of arrest, accusation and reprimand was received by certificate.
Garda Detective Pat Connery told the court that Barry, 45, allegedly made four phone calls to the family of the late Cameron Blair last Friday night.
The phone calls occurred between 9:30 p.m. and midnight. The family recorded two of the calls.
During the calls, threats were made to Noel Blair, the father of the deceased. Apparently his family was told to “go back to England”.
An alleged threat was also made to kill and harm Ms. Blair and the couple’s teenage son.
Mr. Blair indicated that during the calls he was warned that his family “would never be safe”.
In another phone call, Mr. Blair reported that he was told to find his “loyal friends” so they could “fix this on the streets of Shankill Road”.
Det Garda Connery said he was informed by the family of the late Cameron Blair that the threats affected them deeply emotionally.
The deceased’s brother is now “on alert” for suspicious activity and the family fears for his safety.
Det Garda Connery objected to the defendant’s bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the possibility of crimes being committed if Mr. Barry was released.
He said that the number that was used to call Mr. Blair was a number that Mr. Barry had previously used to reach the Togher Garda station in Cork City.
Attorney Eddie Burke said his client had fully cooperated with Gardaí and voluntarily made himself available to Gardaí.
He said he had attended the Togher Garda station and arranged for his family to hand over his phone to investigating officers.
Judge James McNulty asked if there was any truth to the “perverse” threats that were allegedly made to the family. He wondered if they arose as a result of “crazy and bad talk about drinking.”
Inspector Jason Lynch said the threats caused “unnecessary anxiety for the Blair family.”
Judge McNulty said he respected that the alleged calls caused undue anxiety and concern to the grieving family of a “kind soul.”
Free legal aid was granted in the event that Mr. Barry receives a disability benefit.
Judge McNulty declined to grant bail in the case. He held Mr. Barry in custody until his next court appearance tomorrow.
Mr. Blair died at Cork University Hospital (CUH) after he was stabbed in the neck at a party on Bandon Road in Cork City on January 16.
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