UPDATE: One of the main suspects in the investigation into Kevin Lunney's abduction has died while police searched his 'hideout' in the UK, according to reports.
Alleged mastermind of the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney, Cyril McGuinness, who is aged in his 50s, suffered a heart attack and died after police unexpectedly raided his "safe house", according to the Irish Independent.
The mob boss, known as "Dublin Jimmy" is well known to Gardaí and UK police as well as in Europe.
His death is believed to have been caused by a heart attack, a senior source told The Independent.
“This is a bizarre development but the information coming from England is that he simply suffered a heart attack when the raid happened and had not been restrained or tasered by officers in the course of the raid,”
GARDAÍ, THE police service of Northern Ireland and the Derbyshire Constabulary are today conducting a massive coordinated investigation into the abduction of Kevin Lunney in September of this year.
Kevin Lunney, the chief executive of a Northern Irish construction company, was kidnapped from his home and tortured before being dumped on a roadside in the Republic of Ireland several hours later.
Members of An Garda Síochana involved in the investigations are today searching both homes and business premises, and have confirmed they are focusing on 5 locations in County Cavan, 3 locations in County Longford and 4 locations in Dublin.
The massive investigation also involves a further 100 Gardaí assisting the investigation team in Cavan, and includes members from Cavan and Monaghan as well as Regional Support Units, National Support Service, Dog Units, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Drugs and Crime Bureau and the National Public Order Unit.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland are conducting searches in 5 locations across the six counties of Northern Ireland, while police in the Derbyshire Constabulary are focusing on a single location in the UK.
Gardaí have confirmed the searches are taking place in order to gather evidence in the case of Kevin Lunney's abduction, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation a Garda spokesperson is currently unable to comment.
As part of a wider investigation, Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information from the public, "no matter how insignificant it appears".
"An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person who has any information, no matter how insignificant it appears, on this vicious criminal attack or any other criminal activities which have taken place in the Cavan/Fermanagh border area over recent years to contact An Garda Síochána at Cavan Garda Station 049 4368800, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 25 00 25 or any Garda Station."
