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Sunday 1 August 2021
Four men are being tried for false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm.
The Special Criminal Court heard that wounds to Kevin Lunney’s face required 24 stitches.
The court heard that footage was gathered from Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath and Dublin by gardaí.
The man has previously brought judicial review proceedings challenging the Special Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to hear his trial.
The Special Criminal Court heard today that the man made the request after one of his son’s died.
The trial continues in front of Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, and Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The judges will decide on the admissability of the phone evidence next week.
Gardaí had given evidence about obtaining search warrants for phone records in relation to their investigation.
O’Higgins said the material gardaí uncovered should be ruled inadmissible because it was unlawfully obtained.
Counsel for one of the accused said there was an “information deficit” in the application for a warrant for phone records.
Lunney told the court that he was bundled into the boot of a car and driven to a container where he was threatened and told to resign from QIH.
The man said he was “definitely not” involved in the dispute over Quinn Industrial Holdings.
He was giving evidence at the trial of four men accused of falsely imprisoning him and causing him serious harm.
Counsel argued the court has become a “permanent and perpetual” structure that is not permitted by the legislation that brought it into existence.
Sean Guerin SC told the court that a matter of law must be dealt with before the trial can go ahead.
The case had originally been fixed for trial on 11 January at the non-jury court.
James Bernard McGovern, 24, appeared at Cavan Circuit Court on Friday.
The case had been fixed for trial on 11 January at the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court today refused an application from the defence to adjourn the 12-week trial.
Lunney (50) was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of 17 September 2019.
Lawyers for one of the accused claim the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in “a state of significant uncertainty” in Ireland.
The defendants have brought High Court challenges against the Special Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to try the matter.
Alan O’Brien is the second of the four accused men to challenge the SCC’s jurisdiction to hear the trial.
The non-jury court heard this morning that the trial will commence on Monday 21 January 2021.
Luke O’Reilly of Kilcogy, Co Cavan and Darren Redmond of East Wall, Dublin are charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm.
The abduction trial is expected to begin in January 2021.
The man is being held at Cavan Garda Station.
The two men and one woman were detained in the Fermanagh area by the PSNI on Thursday.
Three of the arrests were made by the PSNI, and Gardaí arrested the fourth person, who is being detained in Cavan.
The three men were charged with assault causing harm and false imprisonment.
In September, QIH director Kevin Lunney was taken from near his home and assaulted.
The four men were remanded to appear next Friday 13 December.
The four men were arrested last week in the ongoing probe.
Four men have been arrested today.
Chief constable Simon Byrne said that the attack on Kevin Lunney was a “truly horrific crime”.
A cross-border police investigation into the incident is underway.
McGuinness collapsed while police searched a house he was staying in on 8 November.
Fr Oliver O’Reilly has spoken out against the violence in the region.
The two men and one woman were released in the early hours this morning.
MOST DRIVERS IN the UK want a lower motorway speed limit in wet weather to boost safety and encourage better driving habits, according to new polling.
Some 78% of respondents who supported a reduced motorway speed limit in the wet felt it would encourage some drivers to slow down, while 72% believed it was worth trying as it might save lives. Nearly two-thirds said it could improve visibility due to less spray from moving vehicles.
In France, this is already the case as motorway speed limits are reduced from 130km/h to 110km/h during inclement weather. While road deaths fell in most European countries due to the impact of the pandemic last year, the overall figure increased in Ireland.
The idea to reduce speeds on Irish motorways had been mooted by the Green Pary last year during negotiations on the Programme For Government in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. It was reported at the time that the Greens had looked at reducing the 120km/h speed limit to 100km/h. It is not included in the PFG but the programme did commit to a review of speed limits.
So, today we’re asking: Should motorway speed limits be cut in wet conditions?
Poll Results:
Share your story: voices@thejournal.ie
Our columnist muses on the Zappone furore, summer days and what’s next for Donald Trump.
Intervals of clouds and sunshine
Max: 18 °C
Min: 9 °C
Partly sunny with a shower in the area
Max: 17 °C
Min: 9 °C
Rather cloudy with a couple of showers
Max: 19 °C
Min: 13 °C
