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THE BUSINESSMAN ABDUCTED in Co Fermanagh before being attacked and left on the side of a road in Co Cavan last night is suffering from “life changing” injuries, the PSNI has said.
Kevin Lunney, the director and chief operating officer of Quinn Industrial Holdings, was abducted near his home in Derrylin in Fermanagh at around 6.40pm yesterday evening.
He was taken to another location and attacked before being dumped on the side of a road hours later. His and another car were found ablaze on a road near his home.
Superintendent Clive Beatty, District Commander of the PSNI Fermanagh and Omagh district, said the 50-year-old’s car had been rammed and disabled near his home.
He locked himself in the vehicle but four masked men appeared and smashed the windows, forcibly removed him from the car and forcing him into the boot of a black Audi saloon, Beatty said.
He was driven to an unknown location “where he was removed from the vehicle and savagely beaten about the body”.
He sustained severe and brutal injuries to his legs, torso and face, the PSNI officer said.
In the wake of the attack he was bundled into another vehicle, driven to another location and dumped on the side of the road just outside Cavan, “left to fend for himself with his severe injuries”.
He was discovered by a passer-by who summoned help.
A joint PSNI and Garda operation is now under way. Officers are seeking information on a Silver BMW seen acting suspiciously in and around the Stragowna Road area of Derrylin last evening.
They are also seeking information on a black Audi saloon seen driving away from Stragowna Road at speed yesterday evening.
Beatty described Kevin Lunney’s injuries as “severe and savage” – and said that while they were not life-threatening they were life-changing.
The businessman had spoken to investigating officers and was assisting them with the probe “as much as he can” considering his injuries, Beatty said.
Condemnation
Quinn Industrial Holdings said in a statement that this attack follows prior intimidation including physical assaults and arson attacks at or near the homes or businesses of its senior staff.
Its chairman Adrian Barden 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.
Barden added he wanted police authorities to act swiftly and bring those responsible to justice.
The attack has been met with widespread condemnation. DUP leader Arlene Foster said on Twitter that “nobody should have to live in fear of attack or indeed abduction as a result of their job”.
“I hope those responsible face the courts as a result of their actions. Thinking of the family who went through last night’s ordeal.”
Sinn Féin MP for the area Michelle Gildernew said she was disgusted by the attack.
“This is not just a horrific attack on Kevin and his family, but on jobs and stability in Fermanagh. Anyone with information should pass it on to the authorities.”
Business Minister Heather Humphreys, the Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said she was horrified by the news of the attack and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.
She described Kevin Lunney as a decent, honourable, hardworking man “who I have known for many years”.
“As a Director in the Quinn Group, he supports the employment of in excess of 700 people in the Ballyconnell area.
“This type of intimidation is despicable and needs to be eradicated from our society.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends and I wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
- With reporting by Daragh Brophy
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What a pity! The political class and the many chancers in public life have no one left who will challenge them. Time to circle the wagons.
As television in ireland continues to go down the road of the bland leading the bland,I think it’s safe to say we will won’t see his likes of Vincent anytime soon. Unless Gene Kerrigan fancies turning his hand to TV?
Vincent was the only one to ask the right questions and stick it to politicians and the like. Never one to be fobbed off. Well done
A cantankerous contrary old git. Never though he got the best out of his guests because they were constantly on edge with him.
@mickmc: like many of us he had a total aversion to the bullsh*t most politicians and media feed us with on a daily basis.
@mickmc: Which is to say what? He upset the politicians who are used to being given a verbal lap dance by the likes of Miriam O’Callaghan or Pat the plank???
@Martin Critten: Yes that’s true but I’m not sure his style of interviewing cut through it either. Sometimes you have to be clever about these things and tease the issue out unknowns to the interviewee.
@mickmc: Put your money where your mouth is and apply to replace him, mick
@Tony Skillington: If he was doing his job properly he wouldn’t be there to upset anyone, just give sensible debate to the issues of the day. VB was only interested in himself getting points across.
@mickmc: hi joan !
@Chris Kirk: I disagree completely, Chris. It was VB’s job to hold these people accountable, not just to give them another platform like they already had on RTE. If he wasn’t grilling them and making them squirm (knowing what we now know about the level of corruption in government), then he wasn’t doing his job. It was a very valuable service he provided in tandem with exemplary journalistic skills.
It was his job to expose BS. If he never upset anyone, the whole program would’ve been pointless.
@Joe Phillips: he held no one to account, he was making tv, nothing more nothing less. It was mildly entertaining but nothing more.
Listening to you would would swear it was the public accounts committee he was running.
@james connolly: no offence, james, but you’re not a reasonable commentator and I don’t know how to talk to you without paper and crayons.
@Joe Phillips: Try balloons and buckets of confetti , he seems to like clowns .
@Chris Kirk: RTE have been giving ‘sensible debates’ for 30 years and are frightened of upsetting the hand that feeds them. VB while acerbic in his questioning at times, does what any good journalist should do…shake up the political elite and cut through the horse $h1t that RTE seem only too happy to dole out. He is a breath of fresh air in public broadcasting and I applaud him for being so.
@Joe Phillips: Did I in any way suggest I had the knowledge or the skill to do his job. You don’t have to be good at a job to recognise when someone else is doing a equally bad job too. I don’t think I ever make it as a premier league footballer at this stage, but that doesn’t say I wouldn’t recognise a bad one when I’d see him.
Thanks Vinny for making politics interesting and being our cat among the pigeons.
TheJournal.ie, how many articles have you published on this guy’s last show? I’m not sure you’ve got the finger on the pulse of the nation on this one.
Yes, acknowledged it but you’re milking a very average news story over the past three days.
Why did Glenda feel the need to capture the choir on her smartphone? Could she not have merely recorded the bleedin’ show? Yours, etc.
@shouldweallbe: I agree! It just seems to be an automatic reaction for so many. They miss the actual core of what’s happening while trying to get a balanced photo on the phone! But what I couldn’t take my eyes off was Mary Lou smiling! She looked so different and quite lovely!!!!
I didn’t bother watching it after his vomit inducing lovefest with the Leo the previous night.
@Dante Marquinhos: That’ll show him who’s boss!
@Honeybadger197:Oh I’d say you showed yourself who’s boss watching Leo the other night. That’s the thing about you Blueshirts, were other political supporters just follow their respective parties, you Blueshirts treat them like they are a boyband and you are a bunch of 14 year old girls with a crush.
Extremely bizarre and disturbing behaviour from supporters of a political party.
@Dante Marquinhos: Dry your eyes Dante. I’m sure in time you’ll forgive Vincent for talking to a Taoiseach and making you all upset and nauseous. I hope this helps x
http://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-vomiting-remedies
@Dante Marquinhos: Talks about lovefest between presenter and politician, talks about sexual infatuation with politicians regularly… Methinks the Dante doth protest too much! Tell me Dante, how did this predilection for politicians first present itself?
@Dante Marquinhos: “Psychological projection is a defense mechanism people subconsciously employ in order to cope with difficult feelings or emotions. Psychological projection involves projecting undesirable feelings or emotions ontosomeone else, rather than admitting to or dealing with the unwanted feelings”
Its not your fault Dante. Its not your fault.
@Honeybadger197: Good, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Well done Honey, you’re on the road to recovery. Best of luck!
@Dante Marquinhos: Yes, would you please admit you have a problem.
@Dante Marquinhos: Few things in life as funny as a triggered shinnerbot. You never disappoint.
@Dante Marquinhos: Yep , disappointed with that one myself , perhaps if Vincent will do “one offs” in the future he can do a real interview with this smarmy git
The underclasses though VB shows was about politics, everyone else saw it for the entertainment show it was.
@james connolly: VB having a laugh at everyone elses expense
@Chris Kirk: exactly.
#gutted
About as politically astute as my dead hamster, give me Andrew Marr and Andrew Neil any day of the week.
I hope he still pops up on TV3 or somewhere else from time to time. It would help with the DTs!
I liked his no nonsense couldn’t give a flying f*ck who you are approach.
So apart from Gene Kerrigan what other journalist do we have that has the balls to take on the establishment .(Sorry ladies not meant to be a misogynist comment )
Good riddance. A rude belligerent individual with no redeeming features. His interruptions made Cathal Mc Coille look like an amateur.
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