Cyril McGuinness, who allegedly organised the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney, was "not a good yoke", one of the men accused of the abduction told Garda.
Luke O'Reilly also told Gardai that he was "actually shocked" to discover that Mr Lunney had been held in a trailer on his land.
The Special Criminal Court trial of four men accused of Mr Lunney's abduction and assault yesterday heard that 67 year old Luke O'Reilly of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, was interviewed by Gardai over several days after being arrested in November 2019.
He told them the only reason he was speaking to McGuinness by phone around the time of the abduction was to talk about a vehicle that McGuinness was transporting for him to Cavan.
Not a Good Yoke
He said McGuinness, who he knew as Dublin Jimmy, had imported vehicles and parts for him in the past but he "didn't want to be with him. He's not good news, is he?"
He added: "It's the way he is and he's not a good yoke."
Mr O'Reilly also said that he feels bad about what happened to Mr Lunney and, "wouldn't want it to happen to nobody."
He said he had never seen the van allegedly used by the those accused of the attack in his yard at Drumbrade, where the prosecution allege Mr Lunney was held by his captors.
He added that anybody could access the yard without him knowing as the gate is never locked.
He said he had known Dublin Jimmy for more than 15 years and he was importing a car into Ireland for him at the time.
That week, he said, McGuinness called him to tell him where the Mitsubishi was.
He met with McGuinness on the Friday, three days after Mr Lunney's abduction and after Gardai had searched Mr O'Reilly's home, to give him €450.
No suspicions
He met McGuinness at another yard owned by Mr O'Reilly.
He said he had no suspicions when he met McGuinness on the Friday that Mr Lunney had been held in the horse box at Drumbrade
The first he knew of Mr Lunney's abduction was what he read in the papers.
He said he had no idea why Mr Lunney would have been kept in a horse trailer on his land.
But he agreed that it's a remote area.
The trial continues.
