Guilty verdict in tiger kidnap

Following a 13-day trial at Limerick Circuit Court, a man was yesterday found guilty of abducting the son of a Limerick postmistress and his friend.

Zachary Coughlan Ryan, aged 34, of Brennan’s Row, Catherine Place, Limerick, pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Stephen Cusack and Niall Reddan at a house in Caisleann na hAbhainn estate, Castletroy, on April 19, 2012.

Judge Carroll Moran remanded Coughlan Ryan in custody to Dec 13 for sentence.

The trial heard a three-man gang demanded €500,000 for the safe release of Mr Cusack after he and Mr Reddan were abducted from Mr Cusack’s home at gunpoint.

Mr Cusack’s mother was postmistress at Garryowen post office, the trial heard.

Mr Reddan told the court he was released and was told to tell Mr Cusack’s family about the demand.

Mr Cusack told the court the reverse lights of the pick-up truck came on at one point. One man who got out of the front of the truck had taken off a scarf that had covered his face.

Mr Cusack said: “I got a fair good look at him, straight in the eye.” When one of the gang was left in charge of him, Mr Cusack ran for freedom across open countryside, he said.

On Aug 29, 2012, Mr Cusack picked out one of the three kidnappers from an identity parade at Henry St Garda Station.

This was the man whose face he saw when the reverse lights of the truck came on, Zachary Coughlan Ryan, said Sgt Mary Walsh.