Lunney Accused: ‘DNA Was Planted On Van'

Defendant has filed complaint with the Garda Ombudsman

- Alison O'riordan

One of the four men accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney has lodged a complaint with the Garda Ombudsman.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges that DNA was “planted” on a van he claims was deliberately destroyed in a fire so it wouldn’t be made available to the defence, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday.

However, lawyers for the State told the three-judge court that the fire began accidentally.

The non-jury court will rule next month on whether the 12-week trial can go ahead in January as scheduled after lawyers for the four accused yesterday applied to adjourn the case.

The unnamed man and his co-defendants, Luke O’Reilly, 66, of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, Darren Redmond, 25, from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin and Alan O’Brien, 39, of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin, are all charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17, 2019.

Mr Lunney, 50, a father of six, was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening in question.