Alan Harte and two others lose appeals over Kevin Lunney convictions

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Alan Harte, Alan O’Brien and Darren Redmond failed in their bids to overturn their convictions in connection with the kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney, according to an undated Crime World episode.

Harte had pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on 17 September 2019. On 20 December 2021, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to 30 years’ imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court. Crime World reported sentences of 30 years for Harte, 28 for O’Brien and 18 for Redmond.

On 4 February 2025, the Court of Appeal ordered Harte to pay the State’s costs in a separate failed appeal concerning the decision to try him in the Special Criminal Court. His counsel, Michael O’Higgins SC, had acknowledged that Harte would have lost the case even without the time restriction applied by the High Court, but said Harte had never got to argue it.

At a separate Court of Appeal hearing on 28 July 2025, O’Higgins raised whether the Special Criminal Court could deliver a majority verdict and whether it had to disclose if a verdict was unanimous. Remy Farrell SC, for the State, argued that a jury and the judges of the Special Criminal Court were different concepts. Presiding judge Mr Justice John Edwards said the court would reserve judgment.