by Andrew Carey
The jury in the trial of man accused of kidnapping the son of a post mistress will begin their deliberations today.
34-year-old Zachary Coughlan Ryan with an address at Brennan’s Row, Cathedral Place, is alleged to have been one of three men armed and masked who kidnapped Stephen Cusack and his friend Niall Reddan from a house in Castletroy in August of last year.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of the two men on August 19/20, 2012.
After four weeks of evidence, the jury heard evidence from the two injured parties and a number of witnesses over duration of the trial.
The jury of 11 heard that a €500,000 ransom was demanded for the safe release of Stephen Cusack. They also heard that Coughlan Ryan dyed his hair a number of days after the alleged incident took place.
Limerick Circuit Court was told that Stephen Cusack, the son of a Limerick post mistress and his friend, Niall Reddan, were bundled into a pick-up truck and taken to a derelict house in County Limerick. A ransom demand of €500,000 was made to Mr Cusack’s family for his safe release.
Tara Troy told the court that she bought hair dye for Zachary Coughlan-Ryan three days after the alleged kidnapping.
A resident of Johnsgate but formerly of Brennan’s Row, the 30-year-old mother said she knew Coughlan-Ryan after she met him with others in August 2012. He had stayed overnight on her couch a number of occasions.
Coughlan-Ryan called to her home on the night of the alleged kidnap shortly after 8pm and stayed for a number of hours before leaving sometime after 11pm. He returned after 2pm when he knocked on her window and stayed for the remainder of the night.
Replying to defence counsel Brendan Nix SC, Ms Troy said she spoke to two gardaí within the last week and they told her what to say in evidence.
Sgt Mary Walsh attached to Henry Street Garda Station told the court that the accused man was selected in an identity parade by one of the alleged kidnap victims.
The trial, one of the longest to run at Limerick Circuit Court in recent times, had entered its fourth week as evidence concluded with Ms Troy confirming that she bought blonde hair dye for the accused in the days after the alleged kidnap.
Evidence was also given about mobile phone usage as well as the movements and calls made by a number of parties involved in the case.
The trial before Judge Carroll Moran had earlier heard Stephen Cusack and Niall Reddan give evidence of being bound and gagged at gunpoint a house in Castletroy on the night of August 19/20, 2012.
Niall Reddan said he was told he would be kneecapped by his abductors who identified themselves as Continuity IRA.
The kidnappers told him he would be killed if he looked at their faces. He was also told that Stephen Cusack would be killed if he told the gardaí about the kidnap when he was released on a county Limerick roadway.
Both alleged victims told the trial at Limerick Circuit that two men took them from the house while a third man waited outside. The were armed and masked.
In closing speeches, John O’Sullivan prosecution for the State said that it was “absurd” to think that the two young men made up the story of being kidnapped.
“They are two truthful and reliable stories from young lads”, said Mr O’Sullivan who added that there is “consistencies in their stories”.
Mr O’Sullivan added that it was “fanciful and nonsensical” to think that they made up the story of being kidnapped.
Defence Counsel Brendan Nix SC told the jury that the gardai did not investigate the incident thoroughly and that one of the injured parties had prior knowledge of the events before the kidnap unfolded.
Judge Carroll Moran gave his charge to the jury and sent the jury to deliberate their verdict.
