Kevin Lunney is expected to make a phased return to work over the next few weeks, following a brutal kidnap at the hands of a ruthless cross border gang.
The Quinn Industrial Holding (QIH) director has been recovering slowly at home following a terrifying ordeal, when he was abducted outside his Fermanagh home and driven across the border to Cavan and brutally assaulted.
Earlier this week, the gang responsible for the kidnapping of Mr Lunney in September issued a fresh threat to the five QIH directors.
The threat, which was passed to The Irish News on Monday, was conveyed to all five company directors by Gardaí and PSNI.
The statement told the men to resign, warning of a "permanent solution" if they do not act on the "last warning".
It stated: "This is your last warning to resign your positions in QIH. Obviously yous (sic) have not learned the lesson after what happened to Kevin, if we had of wanted we could have killed him very easily."
Read More: Latest threats against Quinn directors 'being taken very seriously at the highest level'
Mr Lunney had his leg broken in two places below the knee, his fingernails sliced down to the quick and the letters QIH carved on his chest.
Tony Lunney recalls the night his brother Kevin was abducted
The attack represented a dramatic escalation of a campaign of intimidation directed at QIH management.
Around 70 incidents have been recorded over the past four years, ranging from threatening graffiti and signs to attacks on cars and company equipment.
A masked man was photographed holding the statement, which threatened anyone removing signs that have appeared in the Cavan/Fermanagh border area.
Read More: Roots to fallout which saw Sean Quinn leave role at Quinn Industrial Holdings
"We want to put on record anybody who removes signs, whether that be council employees or outside contractors, will be targeted", it states.
Garda commissioner, Drew Harris, said this week that any signs will be removed by gardaí.
"If we have to employ specialist help to do that we will do so. This matter’s been brought to my attention and it will be dealt with", he said.
However, John McCartin, who is one of the QIH directors currently under threat has questioned why it had taken so long to remove the signs.
Read More:
- Detectives had 'no prior intelligence' of attack on Kevin Lunney
- John McCartin: Every time the car in front slows I think, God, is this it? Is this the end?
- John Bosco O'Hagan: Why am I speaking now? I feel terrible it has got to this point
Speaking to the Irish Times Mr McCartin said: "If the gardaí are going to take it down, why isn’t it down?
"Why didn’t they take it down in the beginning and forensically examine it? It would have surely incriminated those behind the campaign of intimidation".
Despite the increased threat to the directors Mr Lunney (50) returned to the Derrylin headquarters of QIH this week where he spent an hour talking to staff. He is expected to make a phased return over the coming weeks as he tries to recover from the mental and physical injuries caused by the attack.
Read more:
- Tony Lunney: The abduction and torture of my brother Kevin was a terrifying ordeal
- Kevin Lunney is recovering well from injuries inflicted by masked men
- Sean Quinn: Attacks are not being done in my name
