A takeaway owner in Portadown, Co Armagh, was threatened with blackmail over a “buy one get one free” pizza offer, the High Court was told today.
Prosecutors revealed that the businessman received a demand for £500 after refusing to give away food for free at his restaurant. The details surfaced as 25-year-old Sean McConaghy from Filbin Street, Lurgan, appeared in court on charges of blackmail. McConaghy was arrested following a police report on August 7.
The court learned that the takeaway was running a promotion offering a free pizza with the purchase of another. A customer who requested a free pizza was refused. Subsequently, two men entered the shop and argued with the owner, demanding £500 for “protection.”
One of the men allegedly said, “You need to give me protection money, £500, and we’ll come down on Friday to pick it up.”
The owner refused to pay but was warned, “We’ll see on Friday.” McConaghy, identified as the alleged blackmailer through CCTV footage, initially denied remembering the incident. He later claimed the owner had insulted him, but police are skeptical of this claim.
Defense lawyer Barry McKenna argued that the dispute was merely about a pizza and lacked racial elements. However, Mr. Justice Rooney noted the seriousness of blackmail and the fear it instills, emphasizing that such threats are significant in this context.
McConaghy was granted bail with conditions, including a curfew and a ban on entering Portadown.