Kevin Lunney kidnappers lose conviction appeals

Three men convicted of the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have had their conviction appeals dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond, all from East Wall, Dublin, were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2021 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Mr Lunney at Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with two fellow judges, rejected all grounds of appeal, including challenges to the admissibility of DNA evidence from a van used by the kidnappers, phone records obtained via warrant, and CCTV footage. The court found no error in the trial court's decisions on these matters. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. All three men confirmed they intend to appeal their sentences, with the matter listed for case management on 13 February.