Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7467Kidnapping and assault (serious harm and false imprisonment) · Co. Cavan

Alan Harte loses High Court bid to quash conviction over Kevin Lunney attack

In 2019 businessman Kevin Lunney was kidnapped and assaulted at a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. Alan Harte, 42, was tried at the Special Criminal Court with three co-accused and in December 2021 was convicted of serious harm and false imprisonment and sentenced to 30 years in prison, while co-accused Alan O'Brien and Darren Redmond were jailed for 25 and 18 years. Harte challenged the constitutionality of the two-thirds majority verdict rule and the lack of a jury-style trial. On 2 October 2023 Ms Justice Bolger dismissed his High Court judicial review, ruling that a person tried in the Special Criminal Court has no right to a mirror image of a jury trial.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court2 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Lunney was doused in bleach, had his shin bone shattered with a wooden bat, and was punched, kicked and cut with a Stanley knife.
Where
The kidnapping took place at a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan.
When
The offences against Lunney were committed in 2019.
Weapon
Harte held a Stanley knife to Lunney's face.
Other details
Harte is described as having had a ringleader role in the kidnapping of Lunney.
In court
  • Harte was tried alongside three other accused persons at the three-judge Special Criminal Court.
  • Harte challenged the constitutionality of a section of the Offences Against the State Act that permits a two-thirds majority verdict and does not tell the accused whether the verdict was unanimous.
  • Harte claimed he was entitled to the same trial as an accused would receive in a jury court, and that without it his treatment was unfair and unlawful.
  • On 2 October 2023 Ms Justice Bolger dismissed Harte's judicial review challenge to his conviction and sentence.
Charges
Harte was convicted of committing serious harm to and falsely imprisoning Lunney.
Sentence
  • Harte was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December 2021.
  • Co-accused Alan O'Brien and Darren Redmond were jailed for 25 and 18 years respectively.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAlan Harte lost a High Court bid to set aside his conviction and 30-year prison sentence for his role in the kidnapping and attack on Kevin Lunney. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLunney was doused in bleach, had his shin bone shattered with a wooden bat, and was punched, kicked and cut with a Stanley knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe kidnapping took place at a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences against Kevin Lunney were committed in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponHarte held a Stanley knife to Lunney's face. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarte was tried and sentenced at the Special Criminal Court in December 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarte challenged the constitutionality of a section of the Offences Against the State Act that permits a two-thirds majority verdict at the non-jury court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarte had a ringleader role in the kidnapping of Lunney. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarte was tried alongside three other accused persons at the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Bolger ruled that a person tried in the Special Criminal Court has no right to a mirror image of a jury trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Bolger dismissed Harte's judicial review challenge. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCo-accused Alan O'Brien and Darren Redmond were jailed for 25 and 18 years respectively. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Alan Harte loses bid to quash conviction and sentence for role in Kevin Lunney attack

    Reports the High Court ruling dismissing Harte's judicial review of his Special Criminal Court conviction and sentence. Gives the sentences of two co-accused and the details of the 2019 attack.

    victim, Kevin Lunney, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Lunneyconvicted, Alan Harte, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Harteconvicted, Alan O'Brien, named, irish (judged from name)Alan O'Brienconvicted, Darren Redmond, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Redmond