Ronan family will be ‘strengthened’by their tiger kidnapping ordeal

Traumatic events can define you, destroy you, or strengthen you, and Kilkenny All Ireland hurling champion Adrian Ronan yesterday said his family believe they will be strengthened by their tiger kidnap ordeal after a man was jailed for eight years for the crime.

Stephen Freeman’s role was to pick up and transport money after the raid, but he could not drive so he got a taxi driver he knew through gambling to do the job. The case against Freeman, aged 27, was largely based on admitting his involvement to this taxi driver.

Freeman, of Ballcurris Gardens, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery with others of Bank of Ireland, Parliament St, Kilkenny, on November 3, 2009.