Psychologists warn of difficulties family will face after kidnap

THE main difficulty for people held hostage like the O’Donovans is that the abduction occurred in the relative safety of their own home, said clinical psychologist Marguerite O’Neill.

“We feel we can control things in our own home and when someone invades that safe haven it confronts our idea of security.”

Ms O’Neill, who works with families and their children at her practice in Limerick, is anxious to emphasise that not all those who experience abduction will be severely traumatised and unable to cope.