Court rejects application to adjourn Kevin Lunney trial over mobile data law

Counsel for one of the accused had argued that the law on mass retention of mobile phone data is unclear.

Michael O'Higgins today said the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) had made two "diametrically opposed" rulings on mass retention in recent cases. File photo

The Special Criminal Court has rejected an application by defence lawyers to adjourn the trial of four men accused of abducting and torturing Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney.

Michael O'Higgins SC, for the accused man known as YZ, had argued before the three-judge, non-jury court that the law on mass retention of mobile phone data is unclear. Mr O'Higgins has previously argued before the court that the use of phone data relating to the location and activities of mobile phones is a breach of EU law. The court ruled against him in June and admitted the evidence gleaned from mobile phone records.