Crime gang hunted after grandmother's kidnap

An organised crime gang which kidnapped a grandmother as part of a robbery plot is being hunted today.

Mother-of-two Anne Curry, 58, was snatched from her home at Dromore, Co Down, on Monday evening and only found by police 24 hours later.

She was discovered in a country lane a few miles away at Drumbo, near Lisburn, Co Antrim just as police were making a public appeal for help in tracing her.

Detectives are attempting to track down the seven armed and masked men who bound and gagged her and drove off in her own car - a silver Suzuki Vitara - which was found burned out yesterday morning not far from where she was later found by police.

Det Supt Derek Williamson said there was nothing to suggest paramilitary involvement, but said inquiries suggested it was the work of an organised crime gang.

He said he believed the motive of the kidnap was an attempt to get money from a large business to which her husband was connected. No money was handed over.

Mr Williamson appealed for help from the public in tracking the kidnappers.

He said he wanted to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Dromore or Drumbo areas, or anyone who had seen the silver Suzuki registration PKZ 1432.

“It is vital we get the information,” he said.

He added: “Obviously this has been a very horrendous experience for her and her family.”

Mrs Curry appeared well when she was found but there had been concerns about her health while she was missing and she was given medical treatment.