Boy wins ‘tiger’ kidnap damages

An schoolboy, who was held hostage during a violent ‘tiger’ kidnapping five years ago, was yesterday awarded damages of €17,250 in the Circuit Civil Court against Bank of Ireland.

Barrister Justin McQuade told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that Stephen Smith, 11, was only five when kidnapped by armed criminals who stole almost €8m from the bank’s branch at College Green, Dublin, on February 26, 2009.

Mr McQuade said the boy had been staying with his aunt Stephanie. She and her then partner, Bank of Ireland employee Shane Travers were living with Stephen’s grandparents Kevin and Joan Smith at Stone Bridge House, Kill, Co Kildare.