A significant police operation is underway on both sides of the Border as officers search homes and commercial premises as part of a major investigation into the abduction and assault of Quinn director Kevin Lunney.
Officers from An Garda Siochana and the Police Service of Northern Ireland are focusing on properties belonging to a prominent former dissident republican and a former IRA man in both counties Fermanagh and Cavan, The Impartial Reporter understands.
According to sources, up to 40 officers arrived to search the farm of a former dissident republican at around 7am and spent over an hour at the property.
Searches also took place at two local businesses.
The co-ordinated search operation is taking place in conjunction with Derbyshire Constabulary with officers there searching property belonging to a former IRA man.
It’s understood the PSNI are searching properties in the Derrylin area and those linked with the two men and to convicted criminals.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said officers were searching five locations in County Cavan, three locations in County Longford and four locations in Dublin. These premises are a mixture of Domestic dwellings and Commercial/Business premises.
Over 100 members of An Garda Siochana are assisting the investigation team at Cavan Garda Station including colleagues from the wider Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division, Regional Support Units, National Support Service (NSS) Dog Units, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and National
“These searches are part of the evidence gathering stage to progress the investigations by AGS/PSNI into the abduction, false imprisonment and assault of Kevin Lunney.
“As these are ongoing searches part of a larger ongoing criminal investigation there is no Garda spokesperson available at this time,” said the spokesperson.
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Julie Mullan said: “The investigation is continuing at pace and today‘s significant operation involves searching four residential properties and one commercial premises in the Derrylin area.
“Our colleagues in Derbyshire Constabulary are searching one premises in their area and members of An Garda Síochána are searching five locations in County Cavan, three locations in County Longford and four locations in Dublin. These premises are a mixture of domestic dwellings and commercial business premises.
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