Gardaí launch investigation into tiger kidnapping

A major Garda investigation is underway following an overnight 'tiger kidnapping'.

The wife of the director of a cash-in-transit company was abducted in the incident that saw an armed gang get away with what is believed to be in excess of €150,000 in cash.

The incident - said to have involved at least three armed raiders - began at 9pm last night at the home of a director of Brinks security in Monasterboice in County Louth.

An armed gang held both husband and wife overnight and at 6am the woman was taken away in her silver Mercedes.

The gang forced her husband to go to the Brinks depot in Clonshaugh and hand over a large sum of cash.

The Brinks director drove his Jeep from the depot in Clonshaugh at 8.30am with at least €150,000 in cash.

He left the Jeep along with the money at Thatch Road in Whitehall, that vehicle was later found burned out in Ashbourne.

Meanwhile, gardaí had located his wife at a derelict house on the Howth Road - her car had been set on fire at that location.

The couple have been badly shaken by their ordeal and gardaí are appealing for information on the movement of the Mercedes - Registration number 02 D 43757 and the Jeep 01 KE 843 - or anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the couple's home in and around the Brownstown area of Monasterboice last night or in the last number of days.

An incident room has been set up at Drogheda Garda Station - their number is 041 9874200.