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State using tactics 'characteristic of comedians and propagandists, Lunney trial told

Summary

At the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel have challenged prosecution tactics employed during the trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, representing Alan O'Brien, characterised the State's arguments as "characteristic of comedians and propagandists," contending that prosecutors had misrepresented the defence position on CCTV evidence admissibility. The defence maintains that gardaí accessed footage from locations between Dublin and Cavan without adequate safeguards for constitutional and privacy rights, contrary to European regulations. Michael O'Higgins SC, counsel for an unnamed accused, submitted that CCTV owners cannot lawfully transfer personal data recorded on their cameras without proper procedures. O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, all from Dublin or County Cavan, have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm on 17 September 2019. The three-judge court adjourned proceedings to deliver a ruling on the admissibility of mobile phone and CCTV evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: State using tactics 'characteristic of comedians and propagandists, Lunney trial told. Charges or matters: false imprisonment; intentionally causing serious harm. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-07-02 Publication

Why: Mr O'Lideadha added: "This is a tactic characteristic of comedians and propagandists which is to mischaracterise the arguments raised by the other side in order to pour scorn on it. CNI source report

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Read the original CNI report