Northern Ireland

Court told Kevin Lunney abduction a 'complex case'

QIH director Kevin Lunney, who was abducted last September.
QIH director Kevin Lunney, who was abducted last September. QIH director Kevin Lunney, who was abducted last September.

THOUSANDS of hours of security footage form part of the investigation into the abduction and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings boss Kevin Lunney.

Details of the scale of the investigation were heard during a hearing at Harristown District Court in Roscommon on Friday.

Garda sergeant Paddy McGirl told the court the investigation is still in its infancy and involves more than 400 statements.

Mr McGirl was speaking as three of the four men charged with assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Mr Lunney in Cavan in September last year appeared before Judge James Faughnan.

The senior sergeant said it was not possible to give a timeline on when a 'book of evidence' would be ready as it was a complicated case.

"It will be a lengthy investigation. There are over 400 statements, 1,000 jobs in the job book, CCTV footage from five counties and DNA and forensic evidence awaiting analysis.

"It is a complex case being investigated in two jurisdictions. There has been considerable progress in the investigation but it is still in its infancy. It is a lengthy investigation," he said.

Darren Redmond (25), from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin and Alan O’Brien (38), of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, were remanded to appear again on January 17.

A third man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made an application for bail.

However, Judge Faughnan refused the application after hearing submissions from the defendant's legal representative and from the Garda, who opposed the application.

Judge Faughnan remanded the defendant to appear again before Harristown District Court on January 17.

A fourth defendant Luke O'Reilly (66), from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, appeared in court before Christmas and was remanded to appear again next Friday.

The man thought to have helped orchestrate the kidnapping, Cyril 'Dublin Jimmy' McGuinness died when police raided a house he was living in in England in November last year.