Courts / Cavan / Report

Career criminal Harte must pay costs of Lunney abduction appeal

Date
2025-02-04
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Ballinagh
County
Cavan

Summary

Alan Harte, who is serving a 30-year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney in County Cavan in September 2019, has been ordered to pay the State's costs following the dismissal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal. Harte had challenged the High Court's refusal to judicially review the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to prosecute him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The three-judge panel found that the legal issues raised were moot and declined to depart from the standard procedure against hearing moot cases. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy delivered the costs order, noting that the appellant had been unsuccessful and there was no reason to depart from normal procedure. Harte's legal team had acknowledged that even without the time restriction issue, the case would have failed on its merits. Alan Harte was convicted. Kevin Lunney was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Career criminal Harte must pay costs of Lunney abduction appeal. Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019 contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Case subjects

Alan Harte

Appellant

Charges: falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019 contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) Career criminal Alan Harte, who is serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, will have to pay the State's costs in his failed appeal relating to the State's decision to try him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Kevin Lunney

Appellant

Charges: falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019 contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted

Quinn Industrial Holdings

Applicant

Charges: falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019 contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • High Court
  • Court of Appeal
  • Supreme Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

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