Courts / Cavan / Report

Lunney trial hears from witnesses who made CCTV available to gardai

Summary

The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man known as YZ continued, with the defence challenging the admissibility of CCTV evidence. The four accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm against Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, are facing allegations that they abducted and assaulted him in September 2019. During proceedings, dozens of witnesses from Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, and Dublin testified that they provided CCTV footage to gardai upon request, often without questioning the legal basis. Some stated they were unaware of the Data Protection Act, while others noted they were given copies of section 41b, which permits seizure if necessary and proportionate. Northern Irish police officers also testified regarding their data protection training, confirming that service instructions were issued in 2018 following the Act's introduction. Mr Lunney previously testified that he was forced into a car, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including being cut, doused in bleach, and having his leg broken. He was later found injured on a country road. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, and continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Lunney trial hears from witnesses who made CCTV available to gardai. Charges or matters: false imprisonment; intentionally causing serious harm. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-06-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report