A trial over an alleged blackmail plot to extort money in exchange for releasing a lorry from a dockyard remains stalled because one of the four accused has absconded while on bail.

The case has been in the court system since 2019. The accused are Paul Arthur Maye, 63, from Sally's Wood, Irvinestown; Patrick Thomas McDonagh, 37, of Tummery Road, Irvinestown; Christopher Francis McGovern, 48, and Sandra Morrison, 57, both of Trasna Way, Lisnaskea.

Maye faces four counts of blackmail and two of fraud by false representation. It is alleged that on September 27, 2017, he dishonestly told the victim a loan of £5,000 was required to release a lorry from harbour docks, the location of which was not disclosed. Between October 1 and November 30, 2017, Maye is charged with two further counts of making unwarranted demands, one for £4,500 and another for £3,500.

Maye and McDonagh are jointly accused of false representation by contending that £13,000 would be returned to the victim on payment of £14,000, and making a further demand for cash on dates between December 15, 2017 and January 3, 2018. McGovern and Morrison are jointly accused of a single count of blackmailing the victim into handing over £5,000 in September 2017.

The case started at Enniskillen Magistrates Court in 2019 and was transferred to Dungannon Crown Court. In February 2021, all four pleaded not guilty. An adjournment followed to identify a trial date, but proceedings were halted after McDonagh absconded. Since then, the case has been repeatedly adjourned while efforts were made to trace McDonagh, who the court was told has not been in contact with his lawyers and may be in the United States.

At the most recent court sitting, Judge Brian Sherrard asked whether the Public Prosecution Service intends to sever McDonagh from the case so that a trial can commence for the three co-accused. There was no indication of that. Judge Sherrard said the case had been going on for too long and ordered an adjournment to allow the PPS to consider how to progress to trial, with or without McDonagh.

The other three accused remain on continuing bail. The matter will be mentioned again on October 9.