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Three thugs who kidnapped and tortured businessman jailed for over 70 years combined
Three men who were found guilty of the assault and kidnapping of Kevin Lunney, 51, in September 17 2019, have been sentenced to more than 70 years in jail combined
Three men who were found guilty of the kidnapping and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney have been jailed for more than 70 years combined.
Mr Lunney, 51, was kidnapped close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of September 17 2019.
One of the males, who was referred to in court as "YZ", was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he inflicted the most serious injuries on Mr Lunney.
Alan O'Brien, 40, of Shelmalier Road in East Wall, Dublin, was jailed for 25 years.
Darren Redmond, 27, from Caledon Road, also in East Wall, was sentenced to 18 years, with the final three years suspended.
Mr Lunney had his leg broken, was covered in bleach and had the letter QIH carved into his chest before being dumped on a roadside.
During the abduction, his attackers repeatedly demanded that he resigned as a director of the company.
Justice Tony Hunt, sentencing the three man, said that serious harm was inflicted on the father-of-six during a "vicious assault".
Hunt added that Mr Lunney was permanently injured in an "exceptionally specific way".
The judge described YZ as the "ringleader" of the group and said he targeted the businessman in a "deliberate, sinister and intimidating" manner.
It was heard by the court that YZ was the driver of the car used to transport Mr Lunney from his home to where he was viciously attacked.
The criminal then used a Stanley knife to inflict the most serious injuries on the victim.
The attack was reportedly organised by Cyril McGuinness, a convicted criminal widely known as Dublin Jimmy, who died in November 2019.
Mr Lunney was threatened, assaulted and taken to a remote location, before being tortured by his abductors.
He said the purpose of the "callous and vicious assault" was to terrorise the businessman and others to prevent them from going about their lawful business.
He said there was evidence of the deliberate and chilling surveillance of Mr Lunney and his family, including his daughter, which he said was "particularly disturbing".
The judge said the kidnap was "carefully and meticulously planned" and that it involved "calculated savagery".
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It was "a premeditated brutality inflicted on a decent man to serve ends of organised criminals", he added.
Justice Hunt said Mr Lunney was dumped at the side of road on a chilly September night and "left for dead".
"No doubt Mr Lunney believed his life was in danger. He could have died from his injuries, hypothermia or been struck by a vehicle," he added.
The judge said that he had not imposed a life sentence on any of the three men as he felt the most severe penalties should be reserved for those who financed and organised the crimes.
The court heard that the three men were "prepared to do the very dirty" work on behalf of others.
Mr Lunney was not present in court on Monday.
Daily Star Sunday
![0_Darren-RedmondJPG.jpg](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article25747118.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Darren-RedmondJPG.jpg)
Three men who were found guilty of the assault and kidnapping of Kevin Lunney, 51, in September 17 2019, have been sentenced to more than 70 years in jail combined
Three men who were found guilty of the kidnapping and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney have been jailed for more than 70 years combined.
Mr Lunney, 51, was kidnapped close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of September 17 2019.
One of the males, who was referred to in court as "YZ", was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he inflicted the most serious injuries on Mr Lunney.
Alan O'Brien, 40, of Shelmalier Road in East Wall, Dublin, was jailed for 25 years.
Darren Redmond, 27, from Caledon Road, also in East Wall, was sentenced to 18 years, with the final three years suspended.
Mr Lunney had his leg broken, was covered in bleach and had the letter QIH carved into his chest before being dumped on a roadside.
During the abduction, his attackers repeatedly demanded that he resigned as a director of the company.
Justice Tony Hunt, sentencing the three man, said that serious harm was inflicted on the father-of-six during a "vicious assault".
Hunt added that Mr Lunney was permanently injured in an "exceptionally specific way".
The judge described YZ as the "ringleader" of the group and said he targeted the businessman in a "deliberate, sinister and intimidating" manner.
It was heard by the court that YZ was the driver of the car used to transport Mr Lunney from his home to where he was viciously attacked.
The criminal then used a Stanley knife to inflict the most serious injuries on the victim.
The attack was reportedly organised by Cyril McGuinness, a convicted criminal widely known as Dublin Jimmy, who died in November 2019.
Mr Lunney was threatened, assaulted and taken to a remote location, before being tortured by his abductors.
He said the purpose of the "callous and vicious assault" was to terrorise the businessman and others to prevent them from going about their lawful business.
He said there was evidence of the deliberate and chilling surveillance of Mr Lunney and his family, including his daughter, which he said was "particularly disturbing".
The judge said the kidnap was "carefully and meticulously planned" and that it involved "calculated savagery".
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
It was "a premeditated brutality inflicted on a decent man to serve ends of organised criminals", he added.
Justice Hunt said Mr Lunney was dumped at the side of road on a chilly September night and "left for dead".
"No doubt Mr Lunney believed his life was in danger. He could have died from his injuries, hypothermia or been struck by a vehicle," he added.
The judge said that he had not imposed a life sentence on any of the three men as he felt the most severe penalties should be reserved for those who financed and organised the crimes.
The court heard that the three men were "prepared to do the very dirty" work on behalf of others.
Mr Lunney was not present in court on Monday.
Daily Star Sunday