Robber who held family hostage 'trapped by DNA'

A man who held a woman’s family hostage until she took £20,000 (€28,806) from a Boots store in Co Tyrone was trapped by a crucial DNA profile, police revealed tonight.

Dermot Roulston, 36, falsely imprisoned Brenda McHugh’s husband Patrick and daughter Leanne until she handed over the money from the chemist shop where she worked on Main Street, Strabane.

The day before the heist he gave Mrs McHugh a bullet and told her to keep it to show to a member of staff.

Roulston, who is unemployed and from Lisnafin Park, Strabane, changed his plea today as his trial was due to get under way at Belfast Crown Court.

Mrs McHugh, her husband and daughter were taken hostage after two masked men broke into their home in neighbouring Sion Mills in April 2004.

The family were held overnight before Mrs McHugh was ordered to drive to the store and empty the safe.

The detective who headed up the investigation into the so-called tiger kidnapping said Roulston had been brought to justice as the result of a lengthy and detailed inquiry.

Detective Inspector John Gilmore said: “This was a horrendous ordeal for the members of a family who were held hostage.

“Those who carry out such robberies show no regard for the well-being of the people whose lives they disrupt and terrorise, and there is no doubt this can have a long-lasting effect on families.

“This particular family are to be commended for the way they responded to their ordeal.

“In this case, a meticulous scientific examination of evidence at the scene where the family were held enabled us to build a DNA profile that was to prove crucial.”

Mr Hamilton also led the investigation into the murder of Tyrone pensioner Attracta Harron which earlier this month resulted in the conviction of Trevor Hamilton.

During a brief hearing Roulston admitted three counts of false imprisonment and single counts of robbery, totalling £20,028, assault and intimidation.

Judge Kevin Finnegan QC ordered pre-sentence reports and remanded Roulston in custody.