Bernie McDonagh has been sentenced to 32 months imprisonment for blackmailing a garage owner, whom he and his brother, Thomas McDonagh, “terrorised” into handing over £2,000.
The McDonagh brothers claimed the garage had scratched their car, a Toyota Corolla, after it was dropped off for repairs. They threatened to break the garage owner’s legs, damage his vehicles, and burn down his business if he did not pay £3,000. They also threatened to send “lads on the way with vans.”
The garage owner, based in Bradford, transferred £2,000 out of fear. The brothers then demanded a further £1,500, claiming the car’s exhaust had fallen off. The victim offered to repair the vehicle for free. Further demands for £500 for alleged bumper damage followed.
The victim reported that the brothers’ threats, lasting approximately an hour, prevented him from leaving his office. The brothers were later arrested at the garage.
The victim reported that the incident had caused significant emotional and financial distress, leading to the loss of customers and a staff member. He spent over £5,000 on enhanced security measures.
Bernie McDonagh admitted to the blackmail, while Thomas McDonagh remains untraced after both brothers fled to Ireland while on bail. Bernie McDonagh returned voluntarily.
At Bradford Crown Court, Recorder Patrick Palmer described the offence as “truly nasty.” McDonagh was sentenced to 30 months for blackmail and an additional two months for breaching bail. He will serve half of his sentence in custody and the remainder on licence.
Source: Telegraph & Argus
p sped
travellers!! normal.
phil greg
this is a practice used by certain people in the travelling community . fully video the vehicles on arrival never backdown to intimidation, get film and phone evidence of the culprit and there vehicle please he been jailed and the other will be looking over his shoulder till caught great result extortion and blackmail isnt nice .
[email protected]
These very same person came to our garage and returned the next day, exactly the same circumstances, except they had a beaten up old Skoda that had “sentimental value”, we lost £4000. Shame the sentence was so minimal as I’m sure there were many of us victims!!Four in our local area that we know of!!