Lawyers representing three men convicted of kidnapping and torturing Kevin Lunney argue that key DNA evidence from a burnt van used as a 'team bus' by the offenders should not have been admissible in court.
Lawyers for three men jailed for the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have argued that key DNA evidence from a van that was used as a “team bus” by the offenders and was destroyed by fire while in Garda custody should not have been admissible at their trial. Barristers for Alan Harte (43), Alan O’Brien (43), and Darren Redmond (30) also submitted that the Renault Kangoo van was not properly preserved by gardaí before the fire.
The trial heard that DNA matching Mr Lunney’s was swabbed from areas of suspected blood staining inside the Kangoo van. DNA matching one of the accused men, Redmond, was found on a bar behind the front seats. The prosecution did not allege that Mr Lunney was in the van but rather that someone who had been in contact with Mr Lunney transferred the blood to the van. Following the trial at the Special Criminal Court in December 2022, Harte, of Island Quay Apartments, O’Brien, of Shelmalier Road, and Redmond, from Caledon Road, all in East Wall, Dublin 3, were convicted of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Mr Lunney at a yard at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17th, 2019.Career criminal Harte inflicted most of Mr Lunney’s serious injuries, including knife wounds to his face and torso, after he was abducted from his home in Co Fermanagh on September 17th, 2019. Harte was sentenced to 30 years in prison, while O’Brien received a 25-year sentence and Redmond was sentenced to 18 years with the final three suspende
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