LUNNEY ATTACK LEADER NAMED

Gagging order lifted to reveal identity of thug behind kidnap

- AODHAN O FAOLAIN

THE ringleader of the gang convicted of kidnapping businessman Kevin Lunney was finally named yesterday after the High Court lifted a media gagging order.

The man is Alan Harte, who last month was sentenced to 30 years in prison for seriously harming and falsely imprisoning the Quinn Industrial Holdings director in 2019.

The order was lifted yesterday by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who dismissed an application by Harte's lawyers to further extend his anonymity.

Citing an article of the Constitution, which states that justice must be administered in public, the judge said he could “no basis” for continuing the order.

During his trial Harte was referred to as “YZ”. When handing down the sentence Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Harte as the “ringleader” and the person who had inflicted most of the injuries on Mr Lunney.