Kevin Lunney trial: gardaí found 'Forensic Casebook' at home of accused

A garda searching the home of one of the men accused of abducting and assaulting Kevin Lunney found a book titled 'The Forensic Casebook, The Science of Crime Scene Investigation', the Special Criminal Court has heard

Kevin Lunney has told the court he was abducted, beaten, doused in bleach and cut with a Stanley knife. File picture

A garda searching the home of one of the men accused of abducting and assaulting businessman Kevin Lunney found a book titled, The Forensic Casebook, The Science of Crime Scene Investigation, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Detective Garda Lisa Young told Sean Guerin SC for the prosecution that she was part of a Garda search team at the Dublin 3 apartment belonging to the accused man named as YZ, who cannot be named for legal reasons. She found the book, written by Ngaire Genge, in the main bedroom.

Michael Hourigan BL for YZ asked Det Gda Young if she was aware the book was easily available on Amazon. She said, "I would imagine so."

YZ, 40, from Dublin 3; Alan O’Brien, 40, of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3; Darren Redmond, 27, from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3; and Luke O’Reilly, 67, with an address at Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019.

Kevin Lunney testimony

Mr Lunney has told the court he was bundled into the boot of a car near his home and driven to a container where he was threatened and told to resign as a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. 

His abductors cut him with a Stanley knife, stripped him to his boxer shorts, doused him in bleach, broke his leg with two blows of a wooden bat, beat him on the ground, cut his face and scored the letters QIH into his chest. 

They left him bloodied, beaten and shivering on a country road at Drumcoghill in Co Cavan, where he was discovered by a man driving a tractor.

Arrest and caution of YZ and Darren Redmond

The court also heard evidence of the arrest and caution of YZ and Darren Redmond. 

Detective Garda Sharon Walsh said she travelled to Mr Redmond's home and knocked on the door, which was answered by Mr Redmond's mother, Catherine Redmond. 

Det Gda Walsh said she told Ms Redmond she was looking for Darren Redmond and Ms Redmond indicated her son was in an upstairs bedroom.

"She had no issue with us coming into the house," the detective said, adding: "we were more or less invited in." 

She saw Mr Redmond in an upstairs bedroom and arrested him under a provision of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He made no reply when cautioned but did indicate he understood the reason for his arrest.

Mr Redmond's defence counsel Mark Lynam BL challenged the validity of the arrest. He told the court that when gardaí go to a person's house "they have to tell them what they are there for." 

He said it was not good enough for Det Gda Walsh to say that she was "looking for Darren". Counsel said she was required to tell Catherine Redmond she was there to arrest Darren Redmond.

Mr Guerin responded that the garda had consent to enter the house from Ms Redmond. The court will rule on the lawfulness of the arrest later this week.

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.