Police detail terrifying abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney which left him with 'life changing injuries'

Businessman Kevin Lunney locked himself in his car after it was rammed by four masked men who would then smash his vehicle's windows, drag him out and bundled him into the boot of a black Audi saloon, police said.

After a press conference in Enniskillen, PSNI Superintendent Clive Beatty said the Quinn Industrial Holdings’ executive was arriving home when his vehicle was rammed by another vehicle and disabled.

"Mr Lunney locked himself in the vehicle but four masked men appeared, smashed the windows of Mr Lunney's vehicle, forcibly removed him from the vehicle and bundled him into the boot of a black Audi saloon and drove him away from his home," he said.

"They drove for a period of time to an unknown location whereupon he was removed from the vehicle and savagely beaten about the body.

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"He sustained severe and brutal injuries to his legs, torso and face. After this savage attack he was then bundled into another vehicle and driven for another short period of time and then he was dumped on the side of the road just outside Cavan to fend for himself with his severe injuries."

The officer said a passer-by found Mr Lunney and contacted the emergency services.

Mr Beatty said there had been an additional police presence around the company's premises over the last two days, as a board of directors conference was being held.

He said Mr Lunney had been left with "life changing" injuries.

"We have briefly spoken to Mr Lunney, he was able to tell us some information but his injuries are severe and savage," said the officer.

"Although not life threatening, they will be definitely life changing and he is assisting us with the enquiry as much as he can."

Mr Lunney’s and an unknown car were found ablaze in a road near his family home shortly before 7.00pm.  Mr Lunney was later found badly beaten across the border in Cornafean, Co Cavan after he was dumped at the side of a road by his attackers. 

Mr Lunney sustained a broken leg and range of other very severe, but non life threatening injuries for which he is being treated in a nearby hospital.

Mr Adrian Barden, Chairman, QIH said: “Kevin Lunney’s abduction and assault is an outrageous attack on a hard working father of six children but also on his 830 colleagues at QIH and the wider community in the Cavan-Fermanagh region. 

"For several hours last evening Kevin’s wife, family and very many friends were left to contemplate the worst.  Like many of his colleagues I am frustrated and angry that more has not been done to protect Kevin who will require some considerable time to recover from the very severe injuries sustained in this brutal attack." 

Mr Barden spoke of sustained and increasingly serious attacks.

“We have previously warned of the inevitability of serious injury and loss of life arising from these sustained and increasingly serious criminal attacks. We find it inexplicable that not a single arrest has been made north or south despite dozens of incidents.  We are now calling for the police authorities north and south to act quickly and decisively to prevent an inevitable loss of life by bringing those responsible to justice.”

The company is made up of elements of the former business empire founded by ex-tycoon Sean Quinn Sr.

Mr Quinn has repeatedly and publicly condemned all alleged attacks on those now running QIH.

Earlier this year, barrister Peter Girvan, said there have been at least six serious criminal acts since 2014, including arson attacks, industrial sabotage and damage to expensive plant equipment.

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: “This was a horrific attack and we are liaising with our colleagues at An Garda Síochána.

“Our inquiries are at a very early stage and at this time, I am appealing for anyone who may have witnessed a black saloon Audi being driven in the Derrylin, Fermanagh / Swanlinbar, Cavan areas to contact us or our Gardaí colleagues.”

Anyone with any information that may assist us with our inquiries should contact us on 101, quoting reference number 1748 of 17/09/19.

Or to provide information without giving personal details contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111. It is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.