Former formula one boss made his West Cork neighbour’s life ‘a living nightmare’ for four-years, court hears

A FORMER formula one team manager and BMW marketing executive has been found guilty of a sustained campaign of harassment against his neighbours over a four-year period.

German national Hannes Meyer, 79, of Foxhill, Lowertown, Schull, Co. Cork was charged with the harassment of his neighbours Deirdre and William Phillips in Schull between July 29, 2017 and August 7, 2021.

Mr Meyer denied the charges. The case was heard by Judge James McNulty in three sittings at Bantry, Skibbereen and Clonakilty district courts in West Cork.

Prosecuting, Inspector Emmet Daly outlined the case against Mr Meyer. The court heard 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. 

EVIDENCE

Giving evidence to the court the Phillips 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 court was told that the boundaries were in fact consistent with land registry records and had been verified by an independent engineer.

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 an email in February 2020 Mr Meyer stated that the communication was his “last attempt to reach a solution by peaceful means.” 

When Mr Meyer applied to Cork County Council for an extension to a planning permission he had been granted he included allegations of land grabbing about the Phillips in the application. 

The application was published on the council’s website and was only removed when the Phillips were told about it and complained. 

The court also heard that when Mr Phillips and his son were visiting the local recycling centre Mr Meyer approached them and was “frightening in his manner and demeanour” towards them.

The court also heard from Una Buckley, Mrs Phillips sister. 

She told the court that she met Mr Meyer on the narrow boreen that leads to her father’s house near Schull. She said that Mr Meyer enquired if “this was the house where Dr Buckley lives?” 

Ms Buckley told her sister about the encounter which Mrs Phillips said she perceived as a threat towards her elderly father who also lives in Schull.

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.

SOLICITORS LETTERS

Judge James McNulty said that it was “extremely significant” that Mr Meyer did not respond, or rebut two solicitors letters that were sent to him by the Phillips. 

He said: “Taken in isolation any one of these events might not be significant but they are the strands and cords that go to make up a rope. It’s clear to this court that all of these incidents bound together are sufficient to bear the weight of evidence and convict.

“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 or their property or cause damage to their reputation and that he takes down the flagpole. He was also placed on a €40,000 good behaviour bond for two years with five per cent (€2,000) required in cash.