Courts / Dublin / Report

Judge asks if defence suggesting gardai engaged in 'hanky panky' by 'planting' DNA

Summary

At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, the presiding judge questioned whether defence counsel was suggesting gardaí engaged in misconduct by planting DNA evidence in a van allegedly used in the abduction and torture of Kevin Lunney. The trial of four men, including a 40-year-old named YZ, Alan O'Brien of East Wall, Dublin, Darren Redmond of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly of Kilcogy, County Cavan, centres on charges of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on 17 September 2019 at Ballinagh, County Cavan. All four have pleaded not guilty. Defence lawyers challenged the admissibility of DNA evidence recovered from the Renault Kangoo, arguing that experienced forensic examiners found no staining on 29 October but that DNA matching Mr Lunney was identified two days later. They also contended that destruction of the van in a fire at a Cavan storage facility in February 2020 prevented independent expert examination. The three-judge court is expected to rule on the DNA evidence challenge on resumption of the trial.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge asks if defence suggesting gardai engaged in 'hanky panky' by 'planting' DNA. Charges or matters: false imprisonment; intentionally causing serious harm. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 29 Other
• February 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 23 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-07-29 Publication

Why: Lawyers also argued that they have been deprived of an opportunity to carry out their own forensic examination of the van because it was destroyed in a fire after it was moved from Santry to a storage yard in Cavan in February 2020. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report