Three arrested amid Kevin Lunney abduction probe

By Aoife Moore, PA

Two men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney.

Investigating officers arrested the three on Thursday morning in relation to the abduction of the Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director on September 17.

Mr Lunney, 50, was abducted outside his home near Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, and taken to a horsebox across the border, where he was savagely beaten.

His attackers broke his leg, sliced his fingernails and face with a Stanley knife, carved QIH on his chest, and doused the father of six in bleach.

A man in his twenties and a man in his forties were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, while the woman in her fifties was held under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act 1939.

The attack, during which his assailants demanded his resignation, was the most serious in a five-year campaign of intimidation targeting the companies and directors that now control the business portfolio which was built up by fallen tycoon Sean Quinn, once Ireland's richest man.

An Garda Siochana said they are not providing any further information on the arrests at this time.

A spokesman said: "An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to any person who has any information, no matter how insignificant it appears, on this vicious criminal attack or any other criminal activities which have taken place in the Cavan/Fermanagh border area over recent years to contact An Garda Siochana at Cavan Garda station on 049 4368800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or Crimestoppers on 1800 25 00 25 or any Garda station."

A convicted criminal considered a key suspect in the attack on Mr Lunney died last week during a police raid in England.

The suspect, understood by the PA news agency to be known gangster and smuggler Cyril McGuinness, was taken ill while Derbyshire Police were searching a house he was staying in in the Buxton area on Friday morning.

It is believed he had a heart attack.