A top Co Kildare greyhound breeder has received a ransom demand of €10,000 for the safe return of two bitches stolen from his kennels almost two weeks ago.
Kildare gardaí are investigating the case following a number of threatening calls to Mr Ian Greaves demanding money for the return of his animals.
One of the bitches, Mick's Best Lass, has since been found wandering on a farm in Dublin and was returned to her home at Lughill Kennels, Monasterevin, Co Kildare last week. The two kidnapped animals are used by Mr Greaves for breeding.
Mr Greaves, is a former champion breeder and bred Irish Derby winner Toms The Best. He also bred the Ladbrokes Grand Prix winner, Frightfull Billy.
Mr Greaves is horrified by what has happened. "One of the bitches is back. She is a bit traumatised. She was slightly shy and it will take her time to get over what has happened," he said.
Mick's Best Lass and Angie's Clodeen were taken from their Monasterevin kennels on the night of Saturday, October 30th.
The trainer then received a number of threatening phone calls demanding money for their return.
"The kidnappers have called several times. I had 20 to 30 calls in total. They were looking for €10,000. I didn't pay any money. I refused to give in to them," he said.
The caller threatened to kill the greyhounds and said the money would go up by €10,000 each week until the ransom was paid.
Mick's Best Lass was carrying pups at the time of her abduction and Mr Greaves is hopeful both the bitch and her offspring will be okay. "She was the lucky one. We are still living in hope for the other one. We will have to keep our fingers crossed."
Mr Greaves said he has never heard of anything like this happening here before.
The ransom calls stopped last week, but gardaí are continuing to investigate.
A Garda spokesman commended Mr Greaves on the way he refused to pay the ransom and called in the gardaí.