Kevin Lunney trial told defective walkie talkie batteries caused fire that destroyed suspect van

The trial has previously heard that DNA matching Kevin Lunney's was swabbed from areas of suspected blood staining inside the van. File photo

Defective walkie-talkie batteries caused a fire that destroyed a van allegedly used in the abduction and assault of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Detective Sergeant Jim McDevitt of Cavan Garda Station today told the three-judge, non-jury court that an insurance assessor found that the batteries were "prone to overheating".