Man charged with hijacking a car 'by force' with baby inside remanded in custody

Noel Ryan, 47, was charged with abduction and car hijacking and was remanded in custody to appear again on October 3

Noel Ryan, 47, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, where he appeared before the district court charged in relation to abduction and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk

A man charged with hijacking a car and abduction of a five-month-old baby girl who was in the vehicle when it was taken "by force" in Dublin city centre has been remanded in custody.

Noel Ryan, 47, appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on Thursday evening. Judge Jones heard the car was seized with the child on board while the mother “was taking the buggy out of the boot” at Mountjoy Square West.

Mr Ryan, of no fixed abode, was charged with abduction and car hijacking.

The baby was in the back of a car on Mountjoy Square West on Monday afternoon.

Her mother had just stepped out of the car, which was then taken at about 1.50pm with the infant still sitting in the back.

The incident led to gardaí issuing an urgent child rescue alert and a public appeal for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the baby.

The car, with the child still in it, was found parked on North Richmond Street in Dublin 1 shortly after 4pm by a Garda unit on patrol. She was not injured and was reunited with her parents.

On Tuesday, gardaí arrested the accused, who was held at Mountjoy Garda Station. 

Shortly after 3pm on Thursday, he was charged with two offences at Mountjoy Square West on September 23 — unlawful seizure of the car contrary to section 10 of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976, and taking the baby from lawful control of her parent, which comes under section 17 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

He was brought to the evening court sitting.

Mr Ryan remained silent during the proceedings and has yet to indicate a plea.

Detective Garda Paul Griffin said Mr Ryan “made no reply to the charges after caution” and he was handed a copy of the charges.

Objections to bail

The detective added there were objections to bail, but defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght said his client was not making a bail application at this stage.

Judge Jones asked for an outline of the facts. 

Detective Garda Griffin said: “It’s alleged the accused unlawfully seized a vehicle on September 23 at 1.45pm. The vehicle was taken by force from the mother while a five-month old child was in the rear seat of the vehicle. 

“She was taking the buggy out of the boot. She was outside the car, the accused then entered the vehicle and drove off. The vehicle was later recovered at 4pm — the child was present and unharmed,” the detective told the court.

Judge Jones noted there no application to bail at this stage and remanded Mr Ryan in custody to appear on October 3 at Cloverhill District Court. He also ordered the defence to give gardaí 48 hours' notice of any bail application. Legal aid was granted.

Section 93 of the Children Act applies to media coverage of the case to protect the infant’s right to anonymity.