Gardaí hunt for three armed men who kidnapped Dublin family in early morning raid
Gardaí are hunting for at least three raiders involved in a kidnapping and robbery this morning.
A family of three was held in their home in Artane in Dublin overnight before a cash-in-transit worker was forced to handover a sizeable sum of cash.
The family at the centre of the crime are said to be traumatised, but physically unhurt after an ordeal that began early this morning.
A mother and daughter, aged in their 50s and 20s, were taken from their house on Gracefield Road, Artane, north Dublin, at around 5am this morning by three armed and masked men who had forced their way in.
The mother and daughter were found safe and well in the Chestnut Grove estate, Dunboyne, Co Meath.
Superintendent Gerry Donnelly said: "Anyone who has seen the movements of a white Volkswagen Caddy van, 09D, between Gracefield Road and Artane, and a subsequent discovery at Chestnut Grove in Dunboyne, could they please contact Gardaí.
"The vehicle drove around for a number of hours, so it could have gone to a number of different locations."
At the same time the father, a GSLS cash in transit employee, was told to take his van to Corballis Business Park at Dublin Airport and hand over bags of cash to a second van, a small white box type van.
The man, in his 50s was then able to raise the alarm.
It is understood armed detectives arrived after the gang had left the area and three employees from the company, including the man initially targeted, were found locked into the rear of the vehicle.
An incident room has been set up in Coolock Garda Station, and gardaí say a major investigation has been launched.
A forensic examination was carried out at the airport before gardaí removed the cash in transit van and another van.
Gardaí at Coolock are investigating and no arrests have so far been made.
