Craughwell-based businessman Kevin McGeever was yesterday remanded in custody with consent to bail after being charged with making false statements and wasting garda time.
Mr McGeever, 68, appeared before a sitting of Strokestown District Court to face charges relating to allegations that he knowingly made false reports and statements between January 28 and February 28 tending to show he had information on allegations of false imprisonment, assault and threats to harm.
Mr McGeever was also charged that he did knowingly make false reports and statements on the same allegations that thereby caused the time of the gardaí to be wastefully employed.
Garda John Keating told the court he arrested Mr McGeever onTuesday afternoon at 4.50pm and brought him to Gort Garda Station where he was charged that night at 10.35pm.
The garda said Mr McGeever gave no reply to the charges after he was cautioned.
Inspector Padraig Jones applied for Mr McGeever to be remanded in custody with consent to bail and asked Judge Geoffrey Browne to set bail with a bond of €2,500 for Mr McGeever, an independent surety of €10,000, with a minimum cash payment of €3,000 from that surety.
Gardaí also asked for a number of conditions to be set for Mr McGeever with regard to travel documents, a current address, and signing on at garda stations.
A solicitor for Mr McGeever told the court he was not in a position to come up with the cash required and asked Judge Browne to lower the bail amount.
Inspector Jones said gardaí were reluctant to lower it as it was reasonable under the circumstances. Judge Browne did not alter the bail arrangements.
The charges follow an investigation launched after Mr McGeever, 68, was found on a roadside in Co Leitrim last January.
He was reported missing in May of last year and last January he was discovered by a passer-by on a roadside in the Ballinamore area of Co Leitrim.
He was treated at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar and gardaí began an investigation into an allegation of false imprisonment.
