Challenge to third trial in kidnap case

A Dublin man has brought a High Court challenge aimed at preventing him being tried for a third time on charges of kidnapping…

A Dublin man has brought a High Court challenge aimed at preventing him being tried for a third time on charges of kidnapping a family and stealing €2.28 million.

Niall Byrne (30) is alleged to have been a member of a gang that held Securicor employee Paul Richardson and his family hostage as part of a raid in 2005. He denies the charges. He was tried on two occasions but neither jury could agree on a verdict.

Mr Byrne, a courier with an address at Crumlin Road Flats, Crumlin, claims the decision to try him for a third time on the same charges is “unjustly oppressive”. Leave to bring the challenge was granted on an ex-parte (one side only) basis yesterday.