€500k was sought as ransom, trial hears

A man yesterday told how, after he and a friend were abducted, he was freed and told his friend would be killed if his friend’s mother did not pay €500,000.

At Limerick Circuit Court, Zachary Coughlan Ryan, aged 34, of Brennan’s Row, Catherine Place, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning, Stephen Cusack and Niall Reddan on Aug 19, 2012.

The court was told €500,000 was demanded for the release of Mr Cusack, whose mother ran a post office in Garryowen.