Phone traffic ‘led to arrests linked to Lunney kidnap’
Family at centre of arrests known as supporters of Sean Quinn
KEY mobile phone evidence led to the arrests last week of four members of the same family as part of the cross-border police investigation into the abduction and attack on Kevin Lunney.
The family, arrested in Co Fermanagh and Co Cavan last Thursday morning, are known locally to be supporters of Sean Quinn, the former billionaire who lost control of his businesses in 2011.
It is understood the family members came under suspicion when police analysed mobile phone traffic on devices they believed are linked to the attack on Mr Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, informed sources said.
A man and a woman, both aged 61, and a 23-year-old man were arrested by the PSNI early last Thursday morning on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and assisting offenders.
A man in his 30s was arrested around the same time by garda in Co Cavan under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act. All have been released without charge and files will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The family at the centre of the arrests are regarded locally as supporters of Sean Quinn. A campaign group that lobbied for Mr Quinn’s return to his business has thanked family members publicly for their support.
The arrests mark the second phase in the extensive joint police investigation into the attack on Mr Lunney last September. Cyril McGuinness, a Border criminal who was suspected of organising the attack on Mr Lunney, died of a heart attack when police
SUSPECT: Cyril McGuinness raided a house he was staying in in Derbyshire in the UK.
Mr Lunney has been left with life-changing injuries since his abduction. He and four other directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) have been living under police protection since and have been informed in recent weeks the threat remains in force.
The hostilities began after Sean Quinn lost control of his businesses on the Co Cavan and Co Fermanagh border in 2011 over colossal debts to the former Anglo Irish Bank.
Mr Quinn briefly returned as a consultant in 2015 after his old management team, backed by American investors, bought the businesses from the receivers. Mr Quinn fell out with his old management team and left within a year.
In 2018, a fresh round of arson attacks was launched against the company, including the fire-bombing of a car belonging to a relative of the daughter of one of the directors.
Mr Quinn has repeatedly condemned the attacks, including the kidnapping of Mr Lunney, insisting he had no hand, act or part in it.
Chief Superintendent John O Reilly of Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division said the arrests are “a further significant step to ensuring that the perpetrators of this vicious attack will be brought to justice”.