Dublin family held in 'tiger-kidnapping'

A postmaster’s wife and his two teenage children were held hostage in a so-called tiger kidnapping as an armed gang stole more than €200,000 in north Dublin.

The robbers broke into the family home in Sutton around 7am and threatened the family before abducting the father.

Gardaí said the gang forced the man to go to the post office in Edenmore in the Raheny area of the city and open the safe.

It is believed several hundred thousand euro was stolen in the raid.

The family were held hostage in their home while the robbery was carried out and the postmaster was dumped from a van on the Portmarnock Road.

Although the family were badly shaken by their ordeal no-one was seriously injured.

No arrests have been made.

Gardai said a number of crime scenes have been preserved. A van was later found burnt out in the Dunsink area of north Dublin.

Detectives have appealed for anyone who was in the Sutton or Portmarnock Road areas of north Dublin to contact them.

They urged anyone who may have seen a White 05 Volkswagen van in the area or anything in the Bayside area around school opening times to come forward.

PA