Man held over tiger kidnapping

A man has been arrested in connection with a tiger kidnapping in Dublin this morning.

The man, in his 20s, was detained following the kidnap of a woman and an attempt to force her partner, a bank official, to withdraw and hand over a sum of money, believed to be about €100,000, from the Ulster Bank in Kimmage.

Four others are believed to have been involved in the operation.

The woman was abducted from her home in Ballyfermot and placed in a vehicle at about 6.30am today.

Her partner was ordered to obtain a sum of money from the Ulster Bank in Kimmage and to await further instructions. The money was then handed over.

The woman was taken to a property in Fairyhouse, Co Meath. She was released at about noon after the money was handed over. She was not physically injured.

Gardaí became aware of the incident over the morning. Members of the Organised Crime Unit and the Emergency Response Unit were involved in the operation to thwart the robbery. They arrested a man on Kimmage Road West at 12.15pm. He is being detained at Crumlin Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A Garda spokesman said up to five people were involved in the incident, some of which were believed to have been armed.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern expressed his sympathy to the couple involved in the incident and said the Garda response underlined the importance of following protocols for dealing with such cases.

The Irish Bank Officials Association said the incident represented a further example of a "disturbing trend which is causing anxiety and concern to bank staff throughout the country".

IBOA general secretary Larry Broderick said it was gratifying that the improved security measures which have been put in place recently between the Gardaí and the Banks were sufficiently robust on this occasion to foil the raid

"But bank officials will continue to be under threat until such time as it becomes clear to these gangs that the risk of getting caught far outweighs any possible benefit from engaging in this criminal activity," he said.

Gardaí are appealing for information from the public on any activity they might have seen on the this morning or in the last few days at Ballyfermot Road, the Ulster Bank on Lower Kimmage Road and at Steeplechase Court, Fairyhouse.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyfermot Garda station on (01) 6667247 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.