Courts / Cavan / Report
State urges court to uphold gang's conviction for kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney
Summary
The Court of Appeal heard submissions on whether to uphold convictions against three men jailed for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Sean Guerin SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that the case rested on sound circumstantial evidence assessed in its totality, and urged the court to maintain the verdicts. Defence counsel disputed this approach, contending that errors in the trial judgment would not self-correct through broader analysis. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond were convicted in December 2022 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. The appellants have challenged the admissibility of DNA evidence from a van destroyed in garda custody and phone records used at trial, among other matters. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with two fellow judges, reserved judgment to be delivered at a later date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: State urges court to uphold gang's conviction for kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 16 Incident
- September 17 Incident
- 2025-03-11 Publication
Why: He said this was because counsel for the DPP was contending that even if you were to find an error, that error would have "self-corrected" if you "zoom out from the micro". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Lawyers for the State have urged the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions of three men jailed for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, arguing that the case against the men was "sound" and drew on "multiple strands" of circumstantial evidence.; However, following lengthy submissions, the court noted it would not finish as scheduled and adjourned the matter for three months.
Convicted Person
Outcome: Harte was sentenced to 30 years in prison, while O'Brien received a 25-year sentence and Redmond was sentenced to 18 years with the final three suspended.; However, following lengthy submissions, the court noted it would not finish as scheduled and adjourned the matter for three months.
Appellant
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Lawyers for the State have urged the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions of three men jailed for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, arguing that the case against the men was "sound" and drew on "multiple strands" of circumstantial evidence.; However, following lengthy submissions, the court noted it would not finish as scheduled and adjourned the matter for three months.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- Shelmalier Road
- Caledon Road
Topics
Related court reports
- 'Wouldn't be out of place in a Tarantino movie': Lunney kidnappers challenge sentences for 'animalistic' torture and abduction
- Kevin Lunney kidnappers lose conviction appeals
- Kevin Lunney kidnapper claims Special Criminal Court conviction unconstitutional
- Career criminal Harte must pay costs of Lunney abduction appeal
- Career Criminal who kidnapped and tortured Kevin Lunney fails in 'moot' appeal over non-jury trial
- Kevin Lunney kidnap appeal fails to finish in three days
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