Gardai investigate Ballyduff Tiger kidnapping

Gardai are appealing for information on a Tiger-style kidnapping and robbery in Ballyjamesduff that happened overnight.

The disturbing incident happened at around 1.45am this morning, when three masked men armed with handguns, entered a house at Lehery, Crosserlough. The owner of Centra in Ballyjamesduff, his brother and partner were tied up and taken to a disused quarry on the outskirts of Ballyjamesduff.

Before the three were taken to the quarry, one of the masked men threatened the business owner and took his keys and codes to the the Centra safe.

The shopowner, his brother and partner remained captive at the quarry for 20 minutes while one of the raiders robbed the safe, making off with a substantial amount of cash, thought to be in the region of tens of thousands of euro.

The three managed to free themselves around 3.45am. Gardai say the men spoke with Dublin accents, were wearing black, and had their faces covered with ski masks.

One of the men is described as having a slim build while the other two are described as being broad.

A technical examination of the shop, quarry and private home in Crosserlough is continuing and no one was seriously injured during the raid. The father of the shop owner was sleeping upstairs at the house at the time but wasn’t harmed during the ordeal.

Local councillor Paddy Smith said the community was 'shocked and saddened' by the incident.