Man accused of assaulting QIH chiefs remanded in custody

A young Fermanagh boxer accused of assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) directors has been remanded in custody.

James Bernard McGovern is being held in Castlerea Prison on charges arising from the alleged attacks on Kevin Lunney and Dara O'Reilly at a service station cafe in Rakeelan near Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, on February 1, 2019.

Mr McGovern (23), who has an address at Springtown Road in Kinawley, appeared before Judge Denis McLoughlin at a sitting of Cavan District Court earlier this morning, Thursday, June 4.

He had been arrested that same morning by members of An Garda Siochana at Farnham Street in Cavan Town after attending the local station by arrangement.

Mr McGovern was arrested on foot of an arrest warrant issued at Cavan District Court back in June 13, 2019.

Objections to bail were given to the court by Garda Sergeant James McDevitt, based out of Ballyconnell Garda Station.

Amendments were also made to the charges - two separate counts of alleged assault causing harm to Mr Lunney and colleague Dara O'Reilly.

The change was to Mr McGovern's name as detailed on the charge sheets, from simply 'Bernard' to 'James Bernard', reflecting that on a driving licence provided to gardaí as identification.

If convicted, Mr McGovern potentially faces up to five years imprisonment on each count.

Responding to the objections, Ciarán Mulholland, solicitor representing Mr McGovern, put to the court a number of proposals with a view to his client being released. They included a €10,000 surety plus independent guarantees to be provided by the defendant's parents.

He added too that it had always been Mr McGovern's intention to deal with outstanding matters south of the Border, but was waiting for a "domestic" matter in the North to conclude first.

Mr Mulholland stated that charges of assaulting police at the time of Mr McGovern's arrest in September 2019 were dropped before the courts in Belfast last month.

But Judge McLoughlin sided with the State's position, and remanded Mr McGovern in custody to Castlerea prison, to appear again before Harristown District Court tomorrow, Friday, June 5.