‘Gardaí catching up with tiger kidnap criminals’

GARDA Commissioner Noel Conroy yesterday said the tide was turning on tiger kidnappings.

Speaking a day after Thursday’s tiger kidnapping, the garda boss expressed confidence that criminals behind the robberies would be brought before the courts.

He described as “significant” the arrest of nine people in relation to the €500,000 robbery in north Dublin, seven of whom were still in custody last night.

The tiger kidnapping — so called because criminals stalk their victims before attacking — is the fourth this year and the ninth since last August.

At a garda graduation ceremony in Templemore yesterday, Mr Conroy said gardaí were making significant progress against tiger kidnappings.

“It started really in Northern Ireland, it soon came across into our jurisdiction and I’m glad now that things are beginning to change and I am sure that in time you will see people being brought before the courts,” said Mr Conroy.

He said that while the investigation into the latest incident was in the early stages he viewed the nine arrests as significant.

“They are very significant, in so far that it’s clear now we know exactly the number of people involved in this latest crime and we will be dealing with other issues in relation to previous crimes.”

Detectives suspect the same gang may have been behind at least one other kidnapping and robbery in north Dublin.

Last September, 820,000 was taken from the Permanent TSB branch in the Northside Shopping Centre by a staff employee whose husband and two children were held hostage.

In Thursday’s crime, Gerry Smith, the assistant manager at the Bank of Ireland branch in Balbriggan, north Dublin, was ordered to withdraw cash to secure the safe return of his wife and two children.

Mr Conroy praised Bank of Ireland for complying with agreed procedures and contacting gardaí immediately after Mr Smith had told them he needed access to cash.

While gardaí conducted discreet surveillance after being informed, they did not move on the suspects until they were sure Mr Smith and his family were safe.

He also said robberies were of particular concern as the proceeds were often used for drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, gardaí carried out a forensic examination on a mobile home in Moynalty, Co Meath, where they suspect the Smith family were held.