Limerick businessman admits role in abduction

A prominent Limerick businessman has walked free from court after he admitted his involvement in the abduction of a Liberian national who was threatened that he would be shot by the IRA.

Raphael Mullally, of Waterville, Ennis Road, Limerick received a three-year suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Court this morning.

The 39-year-old publican and well-known Limerick businessman had pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Jude Romanus, on January 15 last.

The father of three also admitted a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the Liberian national and to assaulting him causing him harm on the same date.

Judge Carroll Moran was told that Mr Mullally had offered the injured party €30,000 in compensation for his ordeal.

During the hearing, evidence was given that Mr Mullally had paid €1,000 to two men to kidnap Mr Romanus whom he wrongly understood had stolen a watch in a robbery at his sister's house.

The court heard that the watch worth £800 sterling, belonged to Mr Mullally's dead brother and was of extreme sentimental value.

Mr Mullally - who also runs the well-known Limerick bar Russells and a taxi firm - has since accepted that Mr Romanus had no part in the robbery.

Two other men who pleaded guilty to similar charges arising from the same event also received three-year suspended sentences at Limerick Circuit Court this morning.

Speaking on behalf of his client today Limerick solicitor, Dan O'Gorman said Mr Romanus was happy with the outcome and he accepted that justice had been done.