Teen ‘shaken’after gunpoint kidnap ordeal

The mother of a teenager who was kidnapped at gunpoint after he went to meet a man about selling a car says he was "badly shaken" by the experience.

Gerry Finnegan, 18, was at home with his brother, parents and grandmother in Termonfeckin, County Louth, yesterday recovering from his ordeal.

Gardaí believe four men were involved in the kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Mr Finnegan was first confronted by two men at a garage in Termonfeckin at 11.30 on Sunday night.

One produced a gun, a bag was put over the teenager’s head and he was bundled into his Audi A4, which it is believed he was considering selling. At some point between there and a disused milk parlour some 5km away at Newtownstalaban, he was put in the car boot.

At the farmyard, he was held by four masked men until about 3am, when they then went with him to his family home. The men were in the house, a detached bungalow, for around 15 minutes, and his brother and father were assaulted by the men before they left.

Garda confirmed a small amount of cash was taken from the house. Neither man was seriously injured.

The gang escaped in the Audi car which was found burnt out at the disused milk parlour.

Yesterday the young man’s mother said they did not want to comment, but that he had been badly shaken by what happened.

The crime has shocked the rural community where the man’s father is a well-known farmer and has been involved in the IFA.

Councillor Oliver Tully, who lives nearby, said, “This is a terrible thing to happen. It reminds us that we are all so vulnerable in the society we live in today. This is an awful thing to happen to someone, it is terrible and unthinkable.”

Gardaí in Drogheda are investigating and appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041-9874200, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, gardaí are investigating a kidnapping and robbery in which a gang of three-to-four men were involved.

The gang, two of them armed, called to a house in Leehary, Crosserlough, Ballyjamesduff, and demanded the alarm codes and keys to a shop. Three of the occupants were then bundled into a vehicle and taken to a local quarry.

They were left there for some time before raising the alarm. Meanwhile, an undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the shop.