Northern Ireland

Four more arrests in Kevin Lunney kidnapping probe - three in Fermanagh and one in Cavan

QIH director Kevin Lunney. Picture by BBC Spotlight
QIH director Kevin Lunney. Picture by BBC Spotlight QIH director Kevin Lunney. Picture by BBC Spotlight

The PSNI and Gardai have arrested four people today over the kidnapping and torture of Quinn industrial Holdings executive Kevin Lunney.

Two men, aged 23 and 61, and one woman, aged 61, were arrested by the PSNI in the Fermanagh area on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap; conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and assisting offenders. 

They have been taken into custody at Omagh police station where they are being questioned by detectives.

Gardai arrested a man in his 30s in relation to the abduction and assault for an offence contrary to section 72 Criminal Justice Act 2006. He is currently being detained at Cavan Garda Station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

The Joint Investigation Team was established in November 2019 and the two police services have been working together to progress the investigation.

Mr Lunney (50) a director of QIH, was snatched near his Co Fermanagh home and brutally assaulted in September.

The father of six spoke out about the attack in a BBC Spotlight interview, describing how he had been slashed with a knife, doused with bleach and branded by his captors before being dumped on a remote road in Co Cavan.

Last year a key suspect Cyril McGuinness, known as "Dublin Jimmy", died from a suspected "cardiac event" after being handcuffed during a police raid in Derbyshire, England.

Gardai and PSNI have agreed to establish a landmark "joint investigation" into the intimidation campaign against QIH executives.

Detective Chief Inspector Julie Mullan from PSNI’s Criminal Investigation Branch said: “The arrests today show the close working partnership between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána and our determination to bring those responsible  for this heinous crime before the courts.”



Chief Superintendent John O Reilly, Cavan/ Monaghan Garda Division said: “Today’s arrests demonstrate An Garda Síochána’s ongoing commitment, working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and is a further significant step to ensuring that the perpetrators of this vicious attack will be brought to justice.”