Lunney abductor claims verdict at Special Criminal Court breached his rights

A man convicted at the Special Criminal Court of kidnapping and assaulting a Quinn Industrial Holdings director has launched a High Court challenge against his conviction and 30-year sentence. Alan Harte claims that Section 40 of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act breaches his constitutional rights by preventing disclosure of whether his conviction was unanimous or by majority decision. He argues this creates inequality compared to jury trials, where at least ten jurors must agree on a verdict. Harte's legal team contends the provision violates constitutional guarantees of equality and the public administration of justice. The High Court heard the application before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who adjourned proceedings to allow further submissions on which specific constitutional rights were affected. The case concerns an incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019.