Woman ‘abducted and held captive for six days’

A woman was abducted and held captive for six days in a Limerick apartment, it emerged yesterday.

The woman in her 20s was rescued by gardaí last Thursday from an address in Grattan Court, where she had been held captive.

The horrific ordeal emerged at Limerick District Court yesterday when a man aged 33 was refused bail.

Two others have previously been charged with falsely imprisoning the woman.

The man who appeared in court yesterday is charged with assault.

However, Judge Eugene O’Kelly was told that more serious charges are expected to be brought.

Details of the ordeal were outlined during the bail application.

Det Garda Keith Hannon told the court it is alleged the woman was forced from a taxi in the Thomondgate area on May 3 and abducted.

Three men were allegedly involved in forcing the woman into another vehicle. She was then driven to an apartment in the city centre where she was held against her will for almost a week.

Acting on information, gardaí raided the apartment and found the woman in an extremely distressed state. She had been held captive against her will, it is alleged.

John Devane, solicitor, who applied for bail for the 33-year-old man, told the court he was not a flight risk, had no serious previous convictions and was prepared to sign on daily at a Garda station.

Judge O’Kelly, in refusing bail, referred to the violence which the accused had admitted to when questioned by gardaí and said the injured party would be at risk if bail were granted.