Bank’s early warning enabled speedy arrest of tiger suspects

THE early arrest of nine suspects — including two people intercepted during their getaway — is highly unusual in tiger kidnapping cases, according to senior garda sources.

It was a key breakthrough and one which stemmed from the fact that the bank in question immediately alerted gardaí to what was happening.

This enabled garda management to mobilise key units and devise a plan to move in on the suspects once the family being held hostage were safe.

“It’s very rare you catch people on the job, that was a big break,” said one senior officer.

“Usually by the time we get there, or are even alerted, it’s done and dusted, the gang have gone.”

Once gardaí were alerted, shortly after 9.30am on Thursday, they set up a massive surveillance operation, involving the secretive National Surveillance Unit (NSU) and the garda helicopter.

They also set up roadblocks across a wide radius, spanning north Dublin, Louth, Meath and Cavan.

At lunchtime, gardaí were satisfied bank employee Ger Smith and his family were out of danger.

Immediately, the armed Emergency Response Unit (ERU) moved in. They forced a car off the road near Julianstown, Co Meath, and arrested two suspects.

By teatime, gardaí had arrested another two suspects and apprehended a fifth before the end of the day.

Then shortly after midnight, they pounced on four key suspects, who were holed up in a hotel in Ballymun, north Dublin.