Man in court over 'tiger kidnap'

A man has been remanded in custody after been charged over the “tiger kidnapping” of a bank official’s husband and two young children.

Michael McGuirk appeared before Blanchardstown District Court where he was charged with false imprisonment and possession of a firearm arm, on October 23, 2009.

McGuirk, 43, of Captains Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is also accused of failing to disclose information to gardai and the robbery of €220,000 and just over €18,000 in foreign currency.

Judge Brian Sheridan remanded McGuirk in custody to appear at Cloverhill Courthouse on June 24.

The alleged offence happened in Johnsbridge, Lucan, west Dublin, when the husband and children – a boy aged six years and a girl aged three – were tied up and held overnight by an armed gang.

They were later bundled into a van and taken from their home before the mother was forced to withdraw cash from her work place, the Bank of Ireland in Inchicore.

The man and the two children managed to free themselves and were found unharmed near Naas, Co Kildare.