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. 4137False imprisonment, intentionally causing harm (kidnapping and torture) · Co. Cavan · 17 Sep 2019

Court of Appeal dismisses convictions of three men jailed for kidnapping and torture of Kevin Lunney

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals against conviction of Alan Harte (44), Alan O'Brien (44) and Darren Redmond (31), who were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney at a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, on 17 September 2019. The three men plan to appeal against their respective sentences, with the matter listed for 13 February 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree men were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Kevin Lunney. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKevin Lunney was a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMr Lunney was stripped to his boxer shorts, doused in bleach, beaten, cut, and had the words QIH carved into his chest with a Stanley knife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was threatened and told to resign as a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHis attackers broke his leg with two blows of a wooden bat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was bundled into the boot of an Audi near his home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe crime took place at a yard at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHe was left on a country road at Drumcoghill in Co. Cavan where he was discovered by a man driving a tractor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe kidnapping occurred on 17 September 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponA Stanley knife was used to carve letters into his chest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDNA matching Darren Redmond was found on a bar behind the front seats of the Kangoo van. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Kangoo van was destroyed by fire while in garda custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal against conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three men plan to appeal against their respective sentences, with the matter listed for 13 February 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAlan Harte was sentenced to 30 years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAlan O'Brien received a 25-year sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceDarren Redmond was sentenced to 18 years with the final three suspended. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jan2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Three men jailed over kidnap of Kevin Lunney learn fate amid bid for freedom

    Court of Appeal (Mr Justice McCarthy, Ms Justice Kennedy, Ms Justice Burns) dismissed all grounds of appeal against conviction, including challenges to DNA evidence from a Kangoo van, phone records, and CCTV footage. The three men confirmed they will proceed with appeals against sentence, listed for 13 February 2026.

    victim, Kevin Lunney, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Lunneyconvicted, Alan Harte, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Harteconvicted, Alan O'Brien, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan O'Brienconvicted, Darren Redmond, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Redmond