18/11/2009

Two Arrested Over Kilkenny Tiger Kidnapping

Gardaí have announced they have arrested two men in connection with an attempted robbery and hostage taking.

The two men aged 28 and 36 were arrested yesterday evening as part of an ongoing Garda investigation into the Kilkenny robbery.

During the incident, a bank official and his family were held hostage during an attempted robbery of a financial institution in Kilkenny on the 3rd of November 2009.

During the incident it is understood that a gang, believed to be from Dublin, targeted a local family.

One of the gunmen reportedly fired a warning shot over the mother before tying her up.

The father subsequently took them with him to the Bank of Ireland in Kilkenny while the mother was taken to the weather station on Granges Road.

Reports at the time of the incident suggest the mother struggled with her abductors who only managed to tape her up after they fired a warning shot. Early reports suggest she freed herself, escaped and alerted Gardaí.

Members of the Garda response management team were assembled and managed the incident, eventually foiling the robbery before it could be carried out.

No injuries occurred during the incident and the robbers were forced to abandon their plan.

The arrested men are currently detained in Kilkenny Garda station under the Criminal Justice Act.

(DW/KMcA)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 October 2019
Yellow Weather Warning Issued For Heavy Rain
A yellow weather warning for rain has been put in place across many counties in Ireland. The warning came into effect at 11pm on Sunday night, 13 October, and is in place until 11.59pm on Monday, 14 October. The warning is for Munster, Connacht, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly and Westmeath.
25 January 2017
51 Arrests Made In Major Gardaí Operation Across Kilkenny
A total of 51 people have been arrested across Kilkenny during a series of raids carried out as part of Operation Thor-Project Storm. Gardaí have carried out a total of 19 planned searches over the last three days.
27 March 2013
Met Eireann Issues Weather Warning
Met Eireann has updated its weather warning status to orange for the east of the country. This means a further snow warning for Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and Meath, with accumulations of up to 5cm.
03 August 2016
Man Arrested Following Robbery In Co Kilkenny
A man has been arrested following a post office robbery in Co Kilkenny. The incident occurred on Main Street, Mullinavat at around 12pm today, 03 August. The suspect, who is in his mid 20s, entered the shop with what was believed to be a firearm and left the scene with a quantity of cash.
04 November 2009
'Tiger' Kidnap Heightens Security Fears
After the second 'tiger kidnapping' in two weeks, Gardaí and Government ministers are to meet Bank chiefs in order to stem the tide of hostage taking robberys. The latest incident, which occurred yesterday involved the attempted robbery of a Bank of Ireland branch in Kilkenny.