A County Fermanagh is to contest multiple allegations of harassing directors and family members of the former Quinn Industrial Holdings, since rebranded Mannok.
Court papers show Bernard McGovern (23) from Springtown Road, Kinawley, allegedly committed three separate sets of offences in 2019.
Until recently, he was remanded in Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon following arrest in June 2020 in connection with an attack on Kevin Lunney and Dara O’Reilly – both Mannok directors.
This relates to an alleged incident 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.
These matters are next due for mention at Cavan Circuit Court in March.
Numerous applications for bail were refused despite McGovern being neither accused nor suspected in the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney in September 2019.
Whilst in custody, three sets of allegations came before Enniskillen Magistrates Court, which a defence solicitor has advised are all denied.
The first case to be listed involved a charge of breaching an injunction prohibiting harassment when McGovern allegedly entered Stragowna Road, Kinawley on 27 June 2019 without reasonable excuse.
His father is expected to give evidence to support denial in this instance.
Further matters, in order of occurrence, allege two charges of harassment and two more injunction breaches.
McGovern is accused of harassing a female relative of the Lunney family on 21 January 2019, by slowing his vehicle 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 same 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 from 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.
At the most recent court sitting a defence lawyer entered not guilty pleas to the latest matters, on McGovern’s behalf, who was not in attendance.
It is anticipated all cases will be heard as contests next month, although it has yet to be confirmed if this can be accommodated by the court.
The defence added an application to vary McGovern’s High Court bail will be required to permit him to enter the North to attend the hearings in person.
