Gardaí hunting woman's kidnappers
Gardaí are continuing to hunt for the kidnappers of a 41-year-old woman who was taken by force from her Co Kildare home.
Helen Judge was reported missing by members of her family on Sunday night.
A Garda spokesman said officers now believe she is being held against her will and confirmed a ransom demand had been received - believed to be for a sum of €200,000.
At some time between 11pm on Sunday night and 3am yesterday morning, Mrs Judge was taken by force from the home she shares with her two sons on the outskirts of the village of Allentown, the spokesman said.
She was wearing only a night gown and a lemon-coloured dressing gown and was barefoot.
Her family raised the alarm and a ransom demand was later received, the spokesman added.
Mrs Judge is described as 5ft 4ins, around 11 and a half stone, with blonde hair. She has a distinctive purple birth mark on her left cheek.
She is on medication and the spokesman said police were fearful for her health and safety.
Her husband, businessman Liam Judge, has been living in Spain for some time.
