Post worker given note saying child was abducted

A WOMAN tried to rob a Co Limerick post office yesterday after handing a note to the post mistress warning her that her young child had been abducted and would be released if €5,000 was handed over.

The incident happened at about 11am at Patrickswell post office which is on the main street.

A woman in her 40s dressed in black top and trousers, with a black cap pulled down over her face entered the building and handed a note to post mistress, Anne Coughlan.

The handwritten note stated that Ms Coughlan’s child, who attends the local national school, had been abducted and was being held.

Ms Coughlan who was inside the post office counter, pressed the panic button and when this sounded, the woman ran out the front door. There was nobody else in the post office at the time.

Garda Tracey Corcoran, stationed in Patrickswell got to the scene within moments and a widescale search for the woman was put in place.

Gardaí quickly ascertained that Ms Coughlan’s child was safe and well at the local school.

It is believed Ms Coughlan was very shocked at the incident and very distressed at the contents of the note which the woman handed her.

A Garda spokesman said: “This was a very sinister incident and we would appeal to anybody who was in Patrickswell between 10am and mid day to contact Gardaí at Roxboro (061-214340).”

The note which was left by the woman raider has been sent to Garda headquarters in Dublin for forensic analysis.

Niall Collins TD, who is from Patrickwell said the attempted robbery was an outrage.

“The use of a threat to a child to extract the money was very sinister and it must have been very distressing to the post mistress.”