A man accused of abducting and beating Director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, Kevin Lunney, has made an allegation of evidence planting.
He, along with his three co-accused, has applied for the upcoming trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court to be adjourned.
Kevin Lunney claims he was attacked after being abducted near his home in Fermanagh last year.
Four men are due to stand trial in January, but they’re now seeking an adjournment.
Aside from disclosure issues, they claim it makes sense to wait for clarity in relation to the retention and use of mobile phone data – an issue currently on the Supreme Court’s desk following a successful challenge by convicted murderer Graham Dwyer.
They also want to wait for the outcome of an investigation into the burning of a van, which gardaí believe was used as part of the operation to abduct Mr Lunney.
One of the accused made a complaint to GSOC, claiming DNA evidence was planted in the van before it was destroyed by fire so it wouldn’t be available to the defence.
Lawyers for the State insist it was accidental.
The court heard they had CCTV footage from the garda facility where the van was being kept, which shows sparks flying from an overloaded bank of sockets.
A decision on the application for the trial to be adjourned will be made next month.
