Multiple cases of harassing directors and family members of the former Quinn Industrial Holdings, since rebranded Mannok, have been adjourned to await the outcome of other proceedings involving one of the alleged victims.
James Bernard McGovern (24) from Springtown Road, Kinawley, allegedly committed three separate sets of offences in 2019.
Last week he was jailed for over three years after admitting an attack on Kevin Lunney and Dara O’Reilly – both Mannok directors.
The incident occurred in a County Cavan service station in February 2019, in which Mr Lunney sustained a broken nose while Mr O’Reilly had hot water thrown in his face.
Cavan Circuit Court was already aware McGovern was neither accused nor suspected in the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney in September 2019.
Whilst these matters were pending a charge of breaching an injunction prohibiting harassment came before Enniskillen Magistrates Court, followed several weeks later by two charges of harassment and two more injunction breaches.
In order of occurrence, McGovern is accused of harassing a female relative of the Lunney family on 21 January 2019, by slowing his vehicle to a low speed while approaching her car and starring in an intimidating manner while shaking his fists.
He then allegedly made an offensive gesture with his fingers while sounding his horn.
Then on 5 February 2019, McGovern allegedly encountered the woman on a road and flashed his lights and shook his fists.
A second set of harassment offences relate to Peter Lunney when on 17 February 2019, McGovern encountered him while driving and: “Flashed his lights on 3 or 4 occasions, sounded his horn for up to 10 seconds multiple times, and shook his fists in a threatening manner.”
On 28 February 2019, McGovern allegedly drove within one foot of Mr Lunney’s parked vehicle preventing him moving, then stared: “In an aggressive and intimidating manner”.
The following month, McGovern is accused of meeting Mr Lunney on a narrow road who pulled his car onto the grass verge. McGovern allegedly accelerated towards the stationary vehicle and: “Before impact swerved away … shaking his fists in an intimidating manner.”
At some point after this, a High Court injunction was served on McGovern prohibiting such behaviour.
On 20 May 2019, McGovern allegedly breached this by contacting a female relative of the Lunney family: “Making cuckoo noises”, repeating this four days later with Kevin Lunney.
Finally, it is claimed McGovern entered Stragowna Road, Kinawley on 27 June 2019 without reasonable excuse.
A defence lawyer previously advised the court all matters are denied.
The cases were collectively listed today (Wednesday) to allocate contest dates however District Judge Steven Keown learned one of the complainant’s is currently in unrelated proceedings which are due for hearing in June.
In addition, Judge Keown noted with McGovern now a sentenced prisoner, he will be required to attend the contested hearings by video-link, which has proved “problematic, but not impossible” in the past.
He decided to list all three cases for review in September.
Last year, McGovern spent almost seven months remanded in custody in Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon. A campaign was launched after he repeatedly refused release while the charges were pending.
Fermanagh Sinn Fein Councillor Chris McCaffrey wrote to the Irish Minister for Justice, pointing to: “A perception of imbalance …The authorities continue to remand without any sufficiently adequate reason.”
However Sinn Fein later distanced themselves from the move.
McGovern’s family also staged protests over his continued detention and met with Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew MP and Sean Lynch MLA.
He was eventually released to an address in County Kildare, but is now back in Castlerea Prison.
