Jury hears phone analysis evidence at kidnapping trial

The jury in the trial of four men accused of abducting a Securicor worker and his family before robbing €2.8m has heard that gardaí identified nine mobile numbers after tracing a call made by the kidnappers from a remote wooded area.

Mark Farrelly (aged 42) of Moatview Court, Priorswood, Coolock, Jason Kavanagh (aged 39) of Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Christopher Corcoran (66) of Bayside Boulevard North, Sutton, and Alan Costello (aged 50) of Cromcastle Road, Coolock have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five charges each.

They are accused of falsely imprisoning Securicor van driver Paul Richardson at Ashcroft, Raheny, Dublin on the night of March 13 and 14, 2005 and falsely imprisoning Marie, Ian and Kevin Richardson on the same dates.

The four are also charged with robbery of €2.28m in cash from Mr Richardson and Securicor Security Services Ireland Ltd.

Garda Inspector Martin Mooney told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that gardaí carried out an analysis of mobile phone network cell sites around Cloon Wood, Co Wicklow, where Mrs Richardson and her sons were held overnight.

He said that two numbers were identified due to a brief call made from the Raheny area to the Cloon Wood area.

He said this call coincided with Mrs Richardson’s account of being allowed to speak to her husband, who was being held separately at the family home.

Inspector Mooney said that nine other numbers were deemed to be of particular interest after gardaí looked at incoming and outgoing calls and texts made from the first two numbers.

The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury of nine men and three women.