Former F1 team manager created ‘living nightmare’ for West Cork neighbours

Inspector Emmet Daly told the court that the Phillips had bought their property in Schull in 2004 from Mr Meyer and his then-wife who were selling it as part of a separation agreement. 

The house and some land was sold to the Phillips while Mr Meyer retained about one third of the land himself. 

Mr Meyer went to Germany after the sale to raise his two children and did not return to Ireland until 2017.

The Phillips, who live in Bath, England, used the house as a holiday home without incident for 13 years until Mr Meyer returned to Ireland. 

Giving evidence to the court, the Phillips’s outlined numerous incidents of harassment by Mr Meyer towards them between 2017 and 2021. 

The court heard that Mr Meyer believed that the boundaries between his property and the Phillips were incorrect. 

The campaign of harassment began with emails from Mr Meyer insisting that the property boundaries were wrong. 

He also called to the Phillips and demanded that they agree to a new boundary. 

In 2018 when Mr Phillips told Mr Meyer that the only way to sort out the issue would be via legal professionals, Mr Meyer told him “I will fight you, I will get my big guns out.” 

The Phillips said that Mr Meyer’s behaviour became increasing aggressively and they were fearful for their safety as a result and were afraid to go outside the house when they knew he was there. 

The couple said that Mr Meyer would stand on the edge of the property in an “intimidating manner” and demanded that Mr Phillips discuss the issue with him “over a bottle of whiskey.” 

In 2020 Mr Meyer erected a notice outside the Phillips house which accused them of stealing his property and engaging in “criminal” behaviour. 

Also in 2020 he erected a large flagpole on his property which partially obstructed the Phillips sea view and proceeded to raise the Irish tricolour on a regular basis. 

In total the court heard of 16 separate incidents that included Mr Meyer burning rubbish deliberately while the Phillips were in their garden, allowing his dog to defecate in their garden, throwing rubbish in their garden and staring at them through windows and across the boundary between their properties.

Mr Meyer denied he had harassed the Phillips and denied that some of the incidents had occurred. He did tell the court that: “I wanted to give them a push so they would sue me.” 

Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said that Mr Meyer was now a different man and his partner of five years was in a nursing home suffering from aggressive cancer. 

He asked Judge McNulty to consider suspending any custodial sentence considering Mr Meyer’s age and the fact he had no previous convictions.

Judge James McNulty said: “This is at the top of the scale, it is not momentary, he created for his neighbours a living nightmare. 

“What could be sweeter than a holiday home in West Cork? Unless you are living next door to Hannes Meyer.” 

He sentenced Hannes Meyer to six months in prison but suspended the sentence for two years subject to conditions that he be of good behaviour, keep the peace, and does not interfere with the Phillips.