Former billionaire Seán Quinn ordered not to trespass on Co Cavan quarry

Ms Justice Emily Egan made the order yesterday restraining the businessman from entering lands owned by two ex-Quinn group companies.

The action was brought by Mannok Cement Ltd and Mannok Build Ltd over Mr Quinn's spate of "incursions" on the land, where he had "no right" to be.

The firms cited health and safety fears over Mr Quinn driving near heavy industrial equipment and a sheer quarry drop.

They also had a "sense of unease" over his presence following a media statement last year that he would do anything to remove Mannok's directors, the court heard. Mr Quinn was not present or represented in court and the judge granted the interlocutory order.

The plaintiffs had secured permission last week to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on him at his home at Greaghrahan, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.

In a letter emailed to the court on Friday, Mr Quinn said he was unable to attend at that stage due to short notice.

He offered an undertaking not to visit the Mannok property if he could use a road on the land that he said is needed to access a site for a prospective wind farm.

Yesterday, the plaintiffs' barrister Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said the application was to restrain Mr Quinn from trespassing at land including a quarry at Swanlinbar, a cement plant at Ballyconnell and parts of the roadway between the two.

Mr Fitzpatrick said Mr Quinn had lost effective control of the Quinn group in 2011 and it was taken over in 2014 and later rebranded Mannok.

The companies claimed Mr Quinn began a spate of acts of trespass on their property in 2019. The most recent was on May 8 when Mr Quinn was seen driving in his Mercedes-Benz E-Class at locations including Swanlinbar quarry.

The quarry and plant and many parts of the roadway were owned by the plaintiff, with some of the road owned by Coillte and local farmers.

CCTV stills showed the claimed instances of trespass and Mr Quinn had accepted he had visited the sites on the dates referred to.

Ms Justice Egan granted costs to the plaintiffs.