English-language student thought raiders would kill her

An Italian language student giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described the moment armed raiders entered the bedroom where she was sleeping during an alleged kidnapping in 2014. The witness, who was staying in the north Dublin area while studying English, told the court she felt terrified when a man dressed in black appeared at her bedside and restrained her with cable ties. She stated that during a subsequent car journey in the early hours, she believed the raiders intended to cause her serious harm. The witness further described being taken to a post office in the company of two other captives, where she said raiders removed approximately ninety thousand euros from a safe. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening behaviour, and unlawful vehicle possession relating to the incident on 25 September 2014. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.