Andrew Carey
andrew
THE trial of a man charged in connection with an alleged kidnapping of a postmistress’s son and his friend in Limerick has opened at circuit criminal court.
Zachary Coughlan Ryan (34) with an address of Brennan’s Row, Cathedral Place pleaded not to two counts of false imprisonment of two men between August 19th and 20th, 2012 at Caislean na hAbhainn in the Castletroy area of Limerick city.
Outlining the State’s case, prosecution counsel John O’Sullivan told a jury seven men and five women that the accused was one of three intruders where Stephen Cusack and Niall Reddan were kidnapped from a house in the Castletroy area of the city.
One man wore a balaclava and was armed with a hand gun while a second covered his face with a scarf and had a knife. A third assailant lay in wait outside the house.
Mr O’Sullivan said that the events are alleged to have occurred on the night of August 19 into the early hours of the following day.
The court was told that the two men were bound with cable ties, gagged and kidnapped in a Toyota pick up truck. It is alleged that they were taken to a derelict farm house in Ballyclough but there Mr Reddan was released and told that his friends life and safety was in danger.
The assailants then took Stephen Cusack to a field in Donoughmore and held before he managed to free himself and escape his captors.
It is alleged that the motive for the kidnap of the two men was to coerce Stephen Cusack’s parents, Patrick and Carol Cusack to pay over money from their post office business.
Defence counsel Brendan Nix SC said that the trial is expected to last two weeks where up to 55 witnesses could be called.
Evidence in the trial continues before judge Carroll Moran.
