Forensics hope to shed light on botched ‘tiger’ kidnaps
In the latest incident, the family of a postmistress escaped unharmed after the van they were held in broke down and the kidnappers fled.
On Tuesday, a postmistress escaped from a van after her captor dozed off after taking drugs.
Technical experts are conducting tests on the vans.
“The fact that, in both cases, the kidnappers suddenly left the vans means they may have left behind some forensic clues, such as fibres, fingerprints, etc,” said one garda source.
In yesterday’s tiger kidnapping, a gang of at least four armed and masked men entered the home of postmistress Betty Corrigan at Glasnevin Avenue, Glasnevin, north Dublin, at around 1am.
They tied up Ms Corrigan, her husband, both aged in their early 50s, and her 26-year-old son.
A number of hours later, members of the gang took the son and her husband, hooded them, bound them and bundled them into the back of the gang’s van and drove off.
Ms Corrigan was given instructions to open the post office on Ballygall Road East and remove cash to secure their release.
Garda sources said there may have been five gang members or possibly more. They believe two were armed with sawn-off shotguns and that at least oneof them had a handgun.
“The family were made aware why they were there. They were told to calm down and that if they behaved and did what they were told, they wouldn’t be hurt,” said a garda source.
He said three of the men appeared to be aged in their 30s, while one was in his early 20s.
They were masked at all times and wore gloves. Gardaí said they seemed to be “fairly organised” and had done an amount of preparatory work and knew the local area.
Gardaí said the van developed mechanical problems on the M50 southbound.
The culprits pulled in on the hard shoulder at around 7am and fled, escaping on foot across open ground.
The men freed themselves and were picked up by a passing patrol car at 7.15am. Ms Corrigan was later found at her home unharmed but was deeply traumatised.
The area around the van and the house were sealed off for technical examination.
Gardaí said only “a small number of gangs” would be capable of operating such a crime and that they would be looking at these people.
Gardaí appealed to anyone who was near Glasnevin Avenue from midnight to 8am yesterday or who saw a blue Citroen Berlingo van to contact them on 01-6667500 or the confidential line 1900 666 1111.
They are also looking for the Corrigan family car, a wine Toyota Avensis, registration 05 D 43161.
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