Northern Ireland

Fermanagh businessman Kevin Lunney abducted, assaulted and dumped at side of road over the border

Kevin Lunney 
Kevin Lunney  Kevin Lunney 

 A 50-year-old high profile businessman was abducted from his home in Derrylin in Fermanagh last night and seriously assaulted. 

Quinn Industrial Holdings’ (QIH) confirmed that Kevin Lunney, it's director and chief operating officer, has been hospitalised.

The PSNI are investigating the incident which occurred as Mr Lunney was returning to his family home in Kinawley, Co Fermanagh from his workplace in nearby Derrylin.

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.