Two on trial for €2.3m robbery

TWO men have gone on trial accused of robbing €2.3 million in a tiger kidnapping six years ago in which the family of a cash-in-transit van driver was held hostage by armed men.

David Byrne, aged 39, of Old Brazeel Way, Knock-sedan, Swords, Co Dublin, and Niall Byrne, aged 29, of Crumlin Road Flats, Crumlin Road, Dublin, have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely imprisoning the Richardson family at Ashcroft, Raheny, north Dublin city on March 13 and 14, 2005, and one count of robbery.

They also pleaded not guilty to robbing Paul Richardson and his employers Securicor of about €2.3m on that date.

On the opening day of the trial Marie Richardson told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that on March 14, 2005, a gang burst into her home in Ashcroft.

She described how the kidnappers put her and her two sons, aged 17 and 13 at the time, into the back of a van and drove to Cloon Wood, Co Wicklow, where they were held overnight.

Mr McGinn told the jury it would hear evidence the two accused were part of a large team.

He said that while his family was being held in the mountains, Paul Richardson was told to go to work as normal and collect a van “loaded with cash”.

He did this and dropped the money to a designated point, but never got a call to say his family had been freed. He then raised the alarm. The family had freed themselves and had also raised the alarm, the jury was told.

The trial continues