A 28-year-old man from Gortin has been sentenced to three months in prison for harassing members of his former partner’s family. Mark McGurk, of Glenpark Road, was convicted at Omagh Magistrates Court on Thursday following a contested hearing that lasted almost six hours. He was found guilty of harassing his ex-girlfriend’s mother and teenage sister but acquitted of a third charge involving the woman’s uncle.

The court heard evidence from the teenage sister, who described two encounters in July 2025. On July 12, she and her mother were returning from Sixmilecross through Beragh when McGurk, driving a Nissan Navara, held his phone up to the open passenger-side window as if he were recording them. On July 26, she and a friend were walking to a shop on the Hospital Road when a red Volkswagen Golf known to belong to McGurk’s mother approached a nearby junction at speed. She said McGurk was driving and appeared to film her on his phone before pulling into the shop. The teenager told the court the incident left her feeling uncomfortable.

The mother of McGurk’s ex-partner gave her own account of two incidents. On July 8, after returning home with her daughter, she found McGurk and his sister parked in her lane. She said McGurk held up his phone as if recording and the situation lasted several minutes. She also described the July 12 encounter, stating McGurk drove past while filming both her and the teenage complainant. The woman said the family felt very uneasy as a result.

Giving evidence, McGurk denied the allegations relating to July 12 and July 26 but admitted filming the mother on July 8. He claimed he recorded her to show his ex-partner that her mother was lying about a social services matter.

During cross-examination, prosecutors challenged McGurk over a police statement in which he said he was not in Beragh on July 12 because of “the marches.” He later accepted in court that he had traveled through Beragh that day. The judge said McGurk had lied to police. McGurk responded that the remark had been a joke and added, “I think this whole thing is a joke.”

Judge Archer said he was satisfied McGurk had harassed both his former partner’s mother and teenage sister on two occasions each. Noting McGurk’s criminal record and the absence of previous good character, the judge imposed a three-month prison term. Bail pending appeal was granted and McGurk was remanded in custody.