LAST UPDATE | 8 Nov 2021

THE SPECIAL CRIMINAL Court has begun to deliver its verdict in the Kevin Lunney abduction trial. 

The three-judge panel, sitting in the Criminal Courts of Justice, began delivering their judgment after 10.30am. 

The four accused, Alan O’Brien (40), of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3; Darren Redmond (27), from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3; Luke O’Reilly (67), with an address at Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan; and a 40-year-old man who cannot be named by order of the court, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan in September 2019.

Lunney (52) had been a director with Quinn Industrial Holdings and the trial had heard there was a dispute about the operations of the company.

The father-of-six was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of 17 September 2019.

The businessman’s leg was broken, bleach was poured on him and the letters QIH were carved into his chest during the two-and-a-half hour incident before he was left on a roadside in Co Cavan, the trial heard. 

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Mr Justice Gerard Griffin and Mr Justice David McHugh presided over the trial.

The judge indicated this morning it could take most of the day to read out the judgment.

He said the court was satisfied that Lunney was falsely imprisoned and assaulted and accepted his evidence.

He also described the victim as a “most impressive witness” and said the court accepted his evidence.

The judge further told the court that Lunney had an “uncanny ability” to estimate the passage of time, even though his attackers had removed his watch.

He added that the victim’s description of the yard where he was taken was borne out in the investigation.

The verdict continues to be read this afternoon.

With reporting from Press Association. Comments have been closed for legal reasons.