Man suspected of kidnapping Northern Ireland businessman Kevin Lunney dies during raid

The main suspect in an investigation into the torture of a Northern Ireland businessman has died during a police raid, Press Association news agency sources said.

The man was "taken ill" as police searched his home in Derbyshire on Friday morning as part of a major operation across the UK and Ireland.

Kevin Lunney, a director at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH), was abducted outside his home in Co Fermanagh in September and taken to a horse box across the border in Ireland where he was severely beaten.

The father-of-six, 50, had his leg broken, his fingernails sliced and the attackers carved QIH on his chest with a Stanley knife before dousing him in bleach.

In October a letter was sent to The Irish Times saying Mr Lunney's abduction was the "final warning", adding "we could have killed Kevin very easily".

The attack was the most serious in a five-year campaign of intimidation targeting companies and directors that now control the business portfolio built up by fallen tycoon Sean Quinn, who was once Ireland's richest man.

There are those in the Fermanagh/Cavan border area, where the companies are based, who continue to hold a grudge.

Arson attacks and death threats have been part of the intimidation campaign, as well as the assault of two directors in a local shop in February.

The Quinn family has condemned the attacks and distanced themselves from those targeting the new owners.

Before Friday, nobody had been arrested as police on both sides of the border came under increasing pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice.

On Friday morning, Irish police were searching five locations in County Cavan, three locations in County Longford and four in Dublin. They were a mix of domestic dwellings and commercial business premises.

In Northern Ireland, police were searching five locations in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh.

And in England, police were searching the Derbyshire home.

Speaking ahead of the raids, Police Service Northern Ireland's 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.

"This was a truly horrific crime and we continue to work closely with our colleagues in An Garda Siochana and now also Derbyshire Constabulary to try and bring the perpetrators to justice."