vile messages Man faces trial after allegedly threatening to kill members of murdered student Cameron Blair's family

A MAN charged with threatening to kill two members of a murdered student's family has been remanded for trial.

Noel Barry (46), of Cherry Tree Road, Togher, Co Cork, appeared before Cork District Court on charges relating to alleged threats to kill two members of the family of Cameron Blair and one charge of making menacing phone calls.

He was remanded to Cork Circuit Criminal Court for trial by judge and jury.

Judge Olann Kelleher was told the book of evidence in the matter had been served and gardaí were seeking a remand for trial to the circuit court.

Mr Barry, who was already granted free legal aid as he is in receipt of disability benefit, was remanded on bail to the February 1 court sitting.

However, a hearing date is not anticipated for some time due to the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic on jury trials.

The defendant previously made no reply to gardaí when the charges were put to him by Detective Garda Pat Connery at Togher garda station.

The charges alleged that on September 4 2020, during a phone call that began at 10.57pm, the defendant threatened to kill or cause serious harm to a named member of the Blair family.

Mr Barry is also charged with sending messages on September 4, 2020, which were grossly offensive and menacing contrary to Noel Blair, Cameron's father.

When the first charge was outlined in court, Det Gda Connery said it was alleged that Mr Barry made four phone calls to the family of the late Cameron Blair.

The family recorded two of the phone calls and it is alleged that threats were made to Noel Blair during them.

Further, the Blair family were allegedly told to "f*** off back to England".

It was also alleged that Mr Blair was informed his family would "never be safe".

In a subsequent call, Mr Blair was told to get his "loyalist friends" so they could "sort this out on the streets of Shankill Road".

The court previously heard the family were deeply upset by the nature and content of the alleged calls.

Mr Blair is the father of Cork college student Cameron Blair (20), who was fatally stabbed at a house party on Bandon Road in Cork on January 16, 2020. The student, an award-winning sportsman, later died in Cork University Hospital (CUH).

Det Gda Connery told the court there was no objection to bail but Judge Olan Kelleher reminded the defendant of the strict bail conditions he must adhere to.

These include signing on at a Cork garda station three times a week and having no contact either direct or indirect with any member of the Blair family.

Barry must also stay out of west Cork and be of good behaviour.

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Online Editors