Brutal assault on leading businessman in Co Fermanagh

Quinn Industrial Holdings director abducted and left at side of road

Kevin Lunney
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 18th Sep 2019
Last updated 18th Sep 2019

An investigation is under way after the serious assault of a top businessman in Co Fermanagh.

Kevin Lunney (50), the Chief Operation officer and Director of Quinn Industrial Holdings Police was abducted, beaten and then dumped at the side of the road at Drumcoughill, Cornafean in Co Cavan.

The incident happened yesterday evening as Mr Lunney was returning to his family home in Kinawley, Co Fermanagh from his workplace in nearby Derrylin.

In a statement the company said the victim sustained a broken leg and range of other very severe, but non life threatening injuries for which he is being treated in a nearby hospital.

Adrian Barden, Chairman, QIH said: “Kevin Lunney’s abduction and assault is an outrageous attack on a hard working father of six children but also on his 830 colleagues at QIH and the wider community in the Cavan-Fermanagh region.

"For several hours last evening Kevin’s wife, family and very many friends were left to contemplate the worst. Like many of his colleagues I am frustrated and angry that more has not been done to protect Kevin who will require some considerable time to recover from the very severe injuries sustained in this brutal attack

“We have previously warned of the inevitability of serious injury and loss of life arising from these sustained and increasingly serious criminal attacks. We find it inexplicable that not a single arrest has been made north or south despite dozens of incidents. We are now calling for the police authorities north and south to act quickly and decisively to prevent an inevitable loss of life by bringing those responsible to justice.”

PSNI Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: "This was a horrific attack and we are liaising with our colleagues at An Garda Siochana.''

He appealed for anyone who may have witnessed a black saloon Audi being driven in the Derrylin, Fermanagh, or Swanlinbar, Cavan areas to contact either the PSNI or gardai