The High Court has granted bail to two men charged with the alleged assault and false imprisonment of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney.
Luke O'Reilly, 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan and Darren Redmond, 25, from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 are charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September, 2019.
The two men were served with books of evidence at the Special Criminal Court on 26 March.
Mr Lunney, 50, a father of six, was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of 17 September.
Mr O'Reilly and Mr Redmond appeared via video-link from Portlaoise Prison for the hearing.
Ruling on the application, Mr Justice Paul Burns said taking all the evidence and submissions together, the prosecution had fallen just short of meeting the standard of proof required.
The judge granted bail for both men but stressed that it was subject to stringent conditions.
The State had objected to bail on two grounds, arguing that if granted bail the accused men would interfere with the administration of justice and that they were also "flight risks".
Mr O'Reilly and Mr Redmond were refused bail at Virginia District Court last year and sought to have that decision overturned by bringing an application to the High Court in Cloverhill on 19 December.
However, Mr Justice Robert Eagar refused to grant bail to the two men on that occasion.
Two other men are facing trial alongside Mr O'Reilly and Mr Redmond.
Alan O'Brien (39), of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 and a fourth man who cannot be named for legal reasons are both also charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on the same occasion.
Mr O'Reilly and Mr Redmond were granted bail until their trial date, which it is believed may begin in January 2021 and is expected to last between eight and 12 weeks.
The case is in for mention before the Special Criminal Court on 10 June.
