Nothing done to protect me after 'tiger kidnapping', says security worker

A security van driverhas claimed that nothing was done to protect him and his family following the kidnapping of a co-worker's family that occurred in 2005.

He has also claimed before the High Court that he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of the incident.

Mr James Eakins (aged 62) with an address at Greenhills, Dublin 12 has sued Securicor Security Services Limited for damages as a result of his crew being asked to hand more than €1m to a work colleague whose wife was the victim of a 'tiger' kidnapping in Carlow in 2007.

However today in what was the second day of the action before the president of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns two managers of the firm said that a number steps were taken by the firm to reduce the risk of such kidnappings on its employees.

Mr Eakins claims that he suffered psychiatric injuries following the robbery of a security van at a service station in Carlow on January 17, 2007.

He further claims that his then employers failed to provide him a safe working environment, a safe system of work, a safe place to work, and had no regard for his health and safety while he was carrying out his duty.

He claims that he was exposed to unnecessary risk of personal injury and psychological injury, and had not received adequate training. It is also claimed that additional security steps were put into being by the company following the Carlow incident.

The defendants deny the claims.

Today, under cross examination by Finbar Fox SC for Securicor Mr Eakins told the court that in his opinion following the kidnapping of the family of Securicor employee Paul Richardson in 2005 nothing was done by the company to protect him, his family or his crew.

He said that there were short talks, and that staff were shown a video about Tiger kidnappings.

The court also heard from Ann Purcell and Glen Keane, who work as managers for the defendants that following the 2005 Tiger kidnapping of Mr Richardson's family the company was shocked and concerned and took steps to protect their workers.

They told the court that employees were given advice about how to conduct themselves in public in order to reduce the risk of becoming victim to tiger kidnapping, and encouraged employees to be more vigilant. The company also consulted with the Gardai and international risk assessments about tiger kidnappings.

In reply to Mr Fox, Ms Purcell said that company did not "rest on its laurels" following the kidnapping of the Richardson's in 2005. She also rejected the contention that in 2007 that Securicor were "a soft touch" for criminal gangs.

The robbery involving Mr Eakins took place around the morning while the Securicor van Mr Eakins was driving was making a delivery to an ATM at a petrol station.

Mr Eakins was approached by a work colleague, Bernard Hogan who asked them to cooperate with the gang to ensure his wife’s safety. Mr Hogan’s wife Ailish had been kidnapped from the couple’s home the previous night.

The money was taken from the van and placed in a car, which was driven from the scene. More than €1m was obtained by the gang. At the time the van contained €2.5m.

The case continues.