GAA star recovering after tiger-kidnap bid
on 03/11/2009 19:20:14
An All-Ireland winning hurler and his family are recovering after he was forced to demand several million euro cash from the bank where he works after a kidnap gang threatened his wife and three children.
Tiger-kidnappers raided the home of former Kilkenny star Adrian Ronan before dawn taking his wife hostage and ordering him to the Bank of Ireland in the city.
The plot fell apart when the gang of at least three armed and masked men became spooked and did not show up at a drop-off point.
It is understood Ronan took his children, all aged under 10, and drove to his Parliament Street workplace as the gang held his wife and waited for ransom money.
The kidnappers phoned orders to the retired hurler and, after he said he could get cash, they demanded he carry out a multi-million euro heist.
Gardaí said the gang raided the couple's home at 6.15am before ordering Ronan to the bank at opening time.
Detectives in Kilkenny were alerted when the bank opened and a counter-operation following agreed protocols swung into place.
Banks, gardaí and workers have signed up to stick to a special routine in the event of a tiger-kidnap - so-called because raiders stalk their prey before attacking.
It was several hours before Ronan's wife was found at about 2pm at the weather station at Granges Road on the outskirts of Kilkenny.
Ronan was an All-Ireland medal winner at both minor and senior level for his county.
Gardaí said none of the family were injured but they said they were extremely traumatised by the eight-hour ordeal.
"The children were unharmed other than that they were very frightened," Superintendent John Gilligan said.
It was the fourth similar kidnap this year.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern is due to meet senior executives from the main banks later this week to discuss the raids.
The meeting was planned after the last tiger-kidnap on Friday October 24.
"My priority and that of An Garda Siochana has been twofold - to safeguard bank employees and their families and to ensure that money does not fall into the hands of criminals," Mr Ahern said.
"Banks, their management and staff can best secure this outcome by following agreed protocols.
"This incident today underscored the importance of following this course."
The minister added: "This incident has obviously been very traumatic for the family involved and I do hope they recover speedily from this dreadful ordeal."
Gardaí appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Parliament Street area or Weather Station of Kilkenny city to come forward.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said bank workers should not be living under constant threat of kidnap.
"The minister has said a lot but done little to protect vulnerable bank officials who are now under the constant threat of being wrenched from their own homes so criminals can attempt to access cash," the opposition TD said.
"There is little point in implying that officials are not adhering to agreed protocols when their lives are on the line and their families under threat of grave harm."