A director of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) was found injured late last night miles from his home after being rammed off a road in his car and abducted in Kinawley prompting a major cross Border police operation. 

Kevin Lunney, Director and Chief Operating Officer, was hospitalised following his abduction following a "vicious assault" at his home.

Mr Lunney’s and an unknown car were found ablaze in a road near the family home shortly before 7.00pm last night. Some hours later Mr. Lunney was found badly beaten across the Border in Cornafean, County Cavan after he was "dumped at the side of a road by his attackers", according to a QIH spokesman.

Mr. Lunney 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.

Commenting, Mr 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.”

Prior intimidation includes physical assaults and arson attacks at or near the homes or businesses of senior QIH staff.

Smoke was spotted by locals in nearby Macken.

Two residents in the area have spoken of hearing an “explosion” following the incident which occurred on Tuesday evening.

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: “We understand that the man was abducted from his home in Derrylin at around 6.40pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 17 September), and was seriously assaulted before being left at the side of the road at Drumcoughill, Cornafean, County Cavan.  He was discovered by local residents just before 9pm and was brought to hospital with serious injuries to his face and leg.

“This was a horrific attack and we are liaising with our colleagues at An Garda Síochána.

“Our inquiries are at a very early stage and at this time, I am appealing for anyone who may have witnessed a black saloon Audi being driven in the Derrylin, Fermanagh / Swanlinbar, Cavan areas to contact us or our Gardaí colleagues.”

"Anyone with any information that may assist us with our inquiries should contact us on 101, quoting reference number 1748 of 17/09/19.

"Alternatively if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."