A vehicle recovered in the investigation into the alleged abduction of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney was "burned, apparently accidentally" while it was being held in evidence by gardaí, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
Lawyers for one of the accused men told the non-jury court that they did not know what happened to the vehicle, but that they would be "grateful" if An Garda Síochána and Director of Public Prosecutions could "tell us all they know".
Four people have been charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney in Co Cavan on 17 September 2019.
A trial date of 11 January 2021 has been fixed for the four accused - Luke O'Reilly, 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, 25-year-old Darren Redmond, from Caledon Road, East Wall, 39-year-old Alan O'Brien, of Shelmalier Road, East Wall both in Dublin, and a fourth accused who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Lunney was found seriously injured on a roadway in Co Cavan having been allegedly abducted while on his way home from work.
Counsel for the fourth accused, Michael O'Higgins SC, told the court that a vehicle in respect of which evidence was gathered was apparently "burned" while in garda custody, "apparently accidentally".
Mr O'Higgins said he did not have full details on what happened to the vehicle and "the easiest thing to do would be for the State to tell us all they know".
Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge court, put it to prosecuting lawyers that the matter seemed to be "of concern".
Counsel for the DPP, Gareth Baker BL, replied that the State were "looking into it".
"You'll have to do more than look into it," the judge replied.
Mr O'Brien was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on 6 July. The fourth accused was also remanded in custody.
Mr O'Reilly and Mr Redmond were granted High Court bail in April, despite garda objections.
