Man due in court over tiger kidnap

A MAN is due to be charged this morning in connection with last week’s tiger kidnapping in Dublin.

The 29-year-old, from Cabra, west Dublin, was arrested last Tuesday, shortly after gardaí were alerted to the robbery. He will appear before Dublin District Court today.

The incident began when a bank official was sent a mobile phone picture at work of her partner being held hostage and a gun pointed to his head.

The 22-year-old woman was ordered to bring cash to a location in the Cabra area to secure the safe release of her boyfriend, 26.

The cash was collected by a man, who set off on foot as gardaí scrambled a massive search operation.

As per protocols with the banks, gardaí had been informed of the robbery after the bank official told her colleagues what was happening.

Garda sources said the man was seen with the bag, which was subsequently found with the money inside. He had dropped it when he saw gardaí approaching.

Sources described him as a “minor player” in a well-known criminal gang in the Cabra West area.

Gardaí are investigating intelligence that this gang may have been operating on behalf of a major criminal from nearby Finglas.

Gardaí suspect the gang knew that the bank official was originally from Cabra and that she worked at the Permanent TSB bank in Phibsboro.

Meanwhile, gardaí seized cannabis following a number of linked raids in Meath, Dublin and Westmeath.

The haul, with an estimated street value of about €120,000, resulted in the arrest of four men.

The operation was conducted by the GardaNational Drugs Unit, the Garda Organised Crime Unit and local detectives.

The operation began shortly after 2pm on Saturday, when gardaí stopped and searched a car at Main Street, Dunboyne, Co Meath, and seized 3kg of cannabis herb.

Gardaí then searched a house in Huntstown, north Dublin, where they recovered 5kg of the drug. A further 1kg was found following a search of a house in Athlone.

One of the four men arrested will appear before Blanchardstown District Court this morning. Two others were released without charge last night, while the fourth man remained in custody at Blanchardstown Garda Station.