McGeever released from Garda custody

A Mayo businessman who claimed he was abducted and held captive for eight months last year has been released from Garda custody.

Kevin McGeever (69), who had been arrested and questioned for 24 hours, did not speak to reporters as he left the Gort Garda station at 9.15pm. He wore a woollen cap pulled down over his head, and was driven away by a man in a Kerry-registered car.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Mr McGeever had claimed he had been abducted at gunpoint from his Craughwell home last May, and had been held captive in a dark room and physically assaulted.

Mr McGeever was arrested at Craughwell Garda station yesterday under section 4 of the 1984 Criminal Justice Act, and taken to Gort for questioning on suspicion of wasting Garda time.

Under section 12 of the 1976 Criminal Law Act, any person who is found guilty of "knowingly" making a false report or statement which causes Garda time to be "wastefully employed" can be fined up to €500 or imprisoned for 12 months or both on summary conviction. The offence carries a penalty on conviction on indictment of imprisonment for up to five years.

Mr McGeever, who has had extensive property interests abroad, was found wandering in a dishevelled state near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim on January 29th last.

He had lost weight and was disoriented, was reported to have the word "thief" marked in ink on his forehead, and was barefoot and wearing a plastic bag.

His location was reported to gardai and he was brought for hospital treatment to Mullingar.