An alleged senior IRA member was refused bail at Belfast High Court today after claims he had tried to intimidate witnesses.
Mr Edward Copeland of 31, Holmdene Gardens in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast faces charges of unlawful imprisonment, assault causing actual bodily harm, kidnapping and threatening to kill.
The charges relate to an incident in Ardoyne on August 22nd, when Mr Copeland is accused of trying to abduct a man with three accomplices.
Mr Copeland was not present in court, as the case was dealt with via a video link.
The Crown lawyer, who asked not to be named, opposed the application for bail, claiming the alleged incident had all the hallmarks of a paramilitary operation. He told the court the RUC believed Mr Copeland to be a senior member of the IRA.
The prosecutor said the alleged target of the abduction, Mr Patrick Shannon, had told the RUC last Wednesday he wanted to withdraw his statement identifying Mr Copeland as the leader of a group of four men who had attempted to kidnap him.
"He was not indicating he had made a mistake but that his family had been threatened, including his 70 year-old mother," said the lawyer.
Mr Shannon, he said, was a known drug dealer who had been targeted by paramilitaries in the past.
Mr Copeland's lawyer said his client denied any part in threats or intimidaion of Mr Shannon and his family.
Mr Justice Gillen said he was satisfied there was evidence that Mr Copeland might attempt to identify witnesses and influence them if released. He was therefore refusing bail, he said.