GARDAÍ in Dublin are investigating after a family was kidnapped and held hostage – and the assailants stole €200,000 from a cash-in-transit van.
A woman and her adult daughter were taken hostage in a Celtic tiger style kidnapping from their home in Artane, Dublin, about 15 minutes drive from Dublin Airport.
A gang of three armed and masked men forced their way into the family home at around 8pm on Wednesday night, where a cash-in-transit employee was with his wife and daughter.
The two women were taken hostage by the assailants and driven away from the home in a white/silver Volkswagen Caddy van with a 09-D registration at around 5am on Thursday morning.
The father, the cash-in-transit employee, was forced to go to work as normal – but meet the kidnappers with the van, which contained up to €200,000, to do a handover for the safe return of his family.
The handover took place at Corballis Road Business Park at Dublin Airport, with the employee driving a GSLS company van to the location.
The employee then locked himself in the van until Gardaí arrived at the scene – while his wife and daughter were found tied and bound in the back of a van some 22km away in Dunboyne, Co. Meath.
While none of the victims suffered physical injuries, they are all traumatised by the events.
The investigation is now focused on finding those behind the stolen money, kidnapping and hostage situation.
Coolock Gardaí have asked anyone who may have been in these areas and seen anything suspicious to contact them on 0035316664200.
