Man in court over kidnap

A 29-year-old man appeared in court in the North today charged in connection with the kidnap of a 16-year-old boy for a £100,000 ransom last week.

Gerard Bradley, of Glenalina Park in west Belfast, was remanded in custody at Belfast Magistrates Court which heard he strenuously denied having knowingly played a part in the alleged offence.

He was accused of assisting offenders by allegedly receiving and helping to dispose of a £100,000 ransom paid by the boy’s family for his safe return.

The court heard that the kidnapped boy was part of a prominent Northern Ireland travelling family.

Bradley was among several people arrested in a police operation launched after the teenager was snatched by a gang of masked men from his home at Mallusk on the northern outskirts of Belfast last Monday.

After being held captive for five days the youth was dumped from a car on the roadside at Glengormley, Co Antrim.

He had been beaten and traumatised during his period in captivity, police said, and required hospital treatment.

Another four men were today still being questioned by detectives investigating the hostage drama.