Wednesday 28 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. 2411False imprisonment, assault causing serious harm · Co. Cavan · 17 Sep 2019

Alan Harte ordered to pay State's costs in failed Special Criminal Court appeal

Alan Harte, 43, serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney in Cavan in 2019, was ordered to pay the State's costs at the Court of Appeal after his bid to have the Special Criminal Court decision judicially reviewed was dismissed as moot.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAlan Harte is serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHarte was convicted of falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLunney was abducted by a group of men and assaulted while being falsely imprisoned (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHarte inflicted most of the serious injuries including knife wounds to Lunney's face and torso (irishtimes.com)
  • what2.25 tonnes of cocaine was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, with an estimated value of more than €157 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe crime took place at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe crime occurred on 17 September 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe ship was boarded by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHarte was charged in November 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe six men are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1994. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLapa pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023, with a market value of €13,000 or more. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLapa also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation between 15 July and 23 September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHarbron pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023 under the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCosts were awarded against Harte at the Court of Appeal (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy made the costs order (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDavid Fennelly SC represented the DPP in seeking the costs order (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP determined that the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarte was tried before the Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court held Harte brought his case outside the three-month time limit (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA Supreme Court ruling found no duty attaches to Dáil Éireann to continuously review the necessity of the Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSix men applied to the Special Criminal Court on 13 January 2025 to have charges against them dismissed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe application was made under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of evidence and arguments. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe presiding judge stated the court was refusing the application in accordance with Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned until Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtUkrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, appeared before the court and was arraigned on one of two charges against him. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtUK national Jamie Harbron, 31, previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and will appear for sentencing later in the year. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure was described as the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Feb2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Six men facing trial in relation to raid on Panamanian cargo ship fail to have charges dismissed

    The Special Criminal Court refused the six defendants' application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to have charges dismissed. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday. Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to one of two charges, and Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

    accused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgenaccused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaaccused, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapaaccused, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron
  2. 4 Feb2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Criminal jailed for kidnap and torture of Kevin Lunney ordered to pay State’s costs in failed appeal

    Court of Appeal ordered Harte to pay the State's costs after his appeal against the DPP's decision to try him in the Special Criminal Court was found to be moot; the three-judge panel found no reason to depart from the normal costs procedure.

    victim, Kevin Lunney, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Lunneyconvicted, Alan Harte, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Harte