Quinn chief makes first appearance since kidnap
QUINN Industrial Holdings (QIH) director Kevin Lunney has made his first public appearance since his abduction and torture last year.
Mr Lunney (50) was abducted from near his home in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, on September 17 and taken away in a horse box by a gang of up to six men.
The father-of-six had his leg broken, was slashed with an artist’s knife and doused in bleach during a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.
He had the letters ‘QIH’ cut into his chest and was dumped by the side of a remote road in Co Cavan.
The incident was one of the most serious in a years-long campaign of intimidation of staff and targeting of businesses previously owned by ex-billionaire Sean Quinn.
Mr Lunney attended the launch of QIH’s Business Insights Partnership with St Aidan’s High School in Derrylin yesterday.
The five-year partnership will involve the creation of a business insights hub for students and sponsorship of St Aidan’s business department.
First Minister Arlene Foster and Education Minister Peter Weir also attended the event.
QIH chief executive Liam McCaffrey explained that the initiative recognises the “important interdependency” between schools, business and the wider community.
“Through our schools’ programmes our apprenticeship, graduate, post-graduate KTP and supported chartership programmes we have seen at firsthand the huge benefits of lifelong learning and continuing education, to our business and to the local economy,” he said.
“We are delighted St Aidan’s have come on board with us and we are committed to working with them to developing sustainable early-stage careers-paths for our future leaders.”
St Aidan’s principal Pat McTeggart said the partnership will be an “exciting adventure” benefitting both the students and staff.
“Sometimes the delivery of new business concepts in a classroom environment can lack the necessary practical and real-life references and examples that are necessary for students to gain a proper understanding of the topic,” he said.
“Working closely with a wide range of people from all disciplines in Quinns and the site visits have brought the whole subject to life and we are extremely lucky to have this opportunity on our doorstep.”
Earlier this week three people were arrested in connection with Mr Lunney’s abduction and torture, however they were later released without charge.