Judgement being delivered in Kevin Lunney trial

Judgment commenced at the Special Criminal Court on November 8th in the trial of four men charged with falsely imprisoning and assaulting businessman Kevin Lunney. Mr Justice Tony Hunt began delivering his ruling after a 40-day trial, reserving verdicts pending continuation following lunch. The judge described Mr Lunney, who was abducted near his Cavan home in September 2019, as a most impressive witness and confirmed the court accepts his account in full. Justice Hunt indicated satisfaction that Mr Lunney was assaulted in a blue horse box located in Drumbrade, and that the treatment he endured constituted false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm. Medical evidence clearly met the threshold for serious harm, the judge stated. Three men have pleaded not guilty: Alan O'Brien of East Wall, Dublin; Darren Redmond, also of East Wall; and Luke O'Reilly of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan.