Search conducted at Judge home

Gardai conducted an extensive search around the home of kidnap victim, Ms Helen Judge, in Allenwood, Co Kildare, yesterday.

Ms Judge (41) was abducted from her home between midnight on Sunday and 2 a.m. on Monday, but was found in Co Louth at 5 a.m. yesterday. Her abductors sought €200,000 but gardaí said no ransom had been paid.

About 12 gardaí, dressed in navy boiler suits and wearing gloves and boots, arrived at the house at 10.45 a.m. yesterday. They used pitchforks and other instruments in the search which ended after 4 p.m.

They began the examination at the bungalow and garden and also spent some time in a large shed behind the house.

Gardaí also combed ditches on the busy main road in front of the house and for several hundred metres beyond it. A number of detectives and other officers spent time with the relatives during the day.

Insp Ray McHugh, Garda spokesman, said people should not read too much into the activity around the house. "It's a routine search that we always do in cases like that," he said.

"There was already a forensic examination of the house and now we are having a second look to see if there is anything of evidential value."

Gardaí said it was possible the abductors had thrown a weapon out the window of the car as they left the scene. However, it appeared that nothing of substance was found.

Relatives and visitors came and went from the house all day as the news spread that Ms Judge had been found unharmed in a wooded area of Omeath, Co Louth. Just after 8 a.m., a spokeswoman said the family would make a statement to the waiting media. At 10 a.m., however, a garda told reporters the family would not be talking to the media after all. It was thought that Ms Judge's sons had travelled to Louth to see her, but by yesterday evening two of her three sons were back in the house.

Shortly after 5 p.m., Ms Judge's 85-year-old mother, Ms Mary Hogan, returned to her "granny flat" at the back of the house. She was accompanied by relatives and left again shortly afterwards.

The family may have been on alert since before dawn, but the first the people of Allenwood knew about their neighbour's release was when they turned on the radio yesterday morning. "The whole village was relieved," said local post mistress, Ms Kathleen Mullen. "Everybody was absolutely delighted when they heard about her release. It was very worrying."

Recalling that Ms Judge was a very private person, Ms Mullen said she would now need time to herself to get over the ordeal.

Several people said they hoped she would be able to put the experience behind her. One woman, who did not want to be named, said the event had put Allenwood on the map for all the wrong reasons. "It's like something you'd see on the television, especially the way she was found in a wood. It was an awful thing for her to go through."

The whole experience had shocked the people of Allenwood, said Ms Mary Berereton. "She's a very nice person and very quiet and friendly. She wouldn't have an enemy in the world. Everyone was hoping and wishing that she would be found."

Two Danish tourists in Allenwood yesterday were surprised to hear what happened. "How awful," said one. "We didn't know anything about it".

Allenwood used to be a quiet town once, recalled Mr Con Boland . "That's changing. But as long as she's back alive and not hurt, that's the main thing. I was glad when I heard she was all right."