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Tiger kidnap trial hears of car crash
Summary
A witness has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing trial of a man charged in connection with a €90,000 tiger kidnapping that occurred in September 2014. The witness described how his vehicle was struck by another car near McAllister's Garage in Malahide, following which two men fled the scene on foot. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning three women at a property in Malahide, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. The witness told the court that one man ran towards nearby woodlands whilst the driver departed in the direction of Swords Road. He noted the driver appeared frightened. Gardaí arrived within seconds of the men leaving the vehicle. The trial, now on its seventeenth day, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Tiger kidnap trial hears of car crash. Charges or matters: trespass and falsely imprisoning postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014; robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- September 25, 2014 Incident
- September 25 Incident
- 2018-11-05 Publication
Why: He told Martin O'Rourke SC, defending, that he focused on the driver because he thought at the time it was "a simple car accident case". Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: trespass and falsely imprisoning postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014; robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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