Developer missing for 8 months is arrested

Developer Kevin McGeever was being questioned last night by detectives after he was arrested on suspicion of wasting Garda time.

The 68-year-old was also being quizzed about the events of the past year of his life.

He was arrested early yesterday and taken to Gort Garda station in Galway where detectives questioned him over claims he had made about being kidnapped and beaten for up to eight months last year.

Mr McGeever, who has extensive property interests in Ireland and abroad, was found wandering on a road near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, on Jan 29.

He claimed he had been kidnapped at gunpoint from his home in Craughwell, Co Galway, and kept in a container for eight months, suffering regular beatings. He had been reported missing by his partner last May.

Mr McGeever was found wandering a country road, and said he had been dumped out of a van by three men. He was taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital but left before providing gardaí with a forwarding address or offering a full explanation for his disappearance.

He was held last night on suspicion of making a report which wasted Garda time, contrary to section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976. He was being held under section 4 of the 1984 Criminal Justice Act and could be held for up to 24 hours.