Publican back home after abduction in Africa

THE Clare publican who was abducted by an armed gang in Sierra Leone returned to Parteen yesterday after his terrifying ordeal.

Ger Mulconroy, 72, known as ‘Flash’ is reported to have gone to the West African state to try and recover money he had invested in a gold mine.

He was seen yesterday in the village, which is on the outskirts of Limerick.

Police in Sierra Leone say he was lucky to escape with his life after they intercepted his abductors, one of whom was armed with a Glock semi automatic handgun.

Members of the country’s Presidential Gaurd were involved in the abduction and according to police, wanted to prevent the publican making statements to police about missing money.

Former defence minister Willie O’Dea, who holds clinics in Mr Mulconroy’s Tailrace pub in Parteen, said while he knew Mr Mulconroy had business interests abroad, he was not aware of any ventures in Africa.

Mr O’Dea said: “He has struck me as a man who would take a punt on something exotic like gold mines.”

According to reports, he had gone there to recover huge sums of money he and another businessman had invested. Mr Mulconroy previously got involved in the pub business in Moscow when Russia opened to foreign investors.

Mr O’Dea said he has conducted clinics at Mr Mulconroy’s pub for the past 12 years, when a corner of south-east Clare was brought into the Limerick East constituency.

Mr O’Dea said: “He is a very colourful, energetic character who is outgoing and humorous. I have never seen him down and I knew he was involved in foreign investment. He was one of the pioneers into Russia.” Mr O’Dea said the abduction was like something out of a novel. “He is irrepressible,” he said.

Mr O’Dea said he was looking forward to meeting Mr Mulconroy.