A judge has rejected an application to retain Restraining Orders connected to a dispute around Mannok Limited after a harassment conviction was quashed when the Public Prosecution Service declined to challenge an appeal.
64-year-old Sean McGovern from Kinawley denied harassing Kevin Lunney, his wife Bronagh, and fellow directors Liam McCaffrey and Tony Lunney, between the 30th of October and the 20th of December 2020.
He is the father of Bernard McGovern who served a sentence in Castlerea Prison for a separate incident against two directors, one of whom was Kevin Lunney. During a contested hearing at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last year, Mr McCaffrey described, "An ongoing campaign of harassment taking many forms including social media and more direct physical abuse".
McGovern launched an appeal and on the day of hearing at Dungannon County Court the prosecution declined to challenge. The conviction was quashed but issues arose around the Restraining Orders which were to remain live until 2025.
Prosecution counsel argued these should stay in place because there were outstanding matters against Sean McGovern's son Bernard which are yet to be heard. The court heard there is ongoing tension in the community and while it seems to have nullified, the complainants stated that they just want to be left alone.
McGovern's counsel contended that his client had not done anything that might properly ground the need for a Restraining Order and it would be wholly unnecessary in the circumstances.
Judge Richard Greene, meanwhile, advised he had taken time to consider the application and ordered that the Restraining Orders would not remain. He added that should problems arise in due course, they could be addressed in an appropriate court if necessary.
