The son of a Limerick postmistress had a gun put to his head when armed and masked raiders entered his home, a court heard.

A man yesterday told how, after he and a friend were abducted, he was freed and told his friend would be killed if his friend’s mother did not pay €500,000.

After being kidnapped at gunpoint, the son of a Limerick postmaster was threatened with death unless his parents handed over a substantial sum of money, a court heard.