A man has been found guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of of being one of two masked and armed men who held four people hostage for up to two hours.
Derek Murphy (33), Macroom Avenue, Coolock, Dublin, was remanded in custody by Judge Patrick McCartan until July 31st for sentencing.
The jury of six men and six women took two hours to reach their unanimous guilty verdicts on the charges of detaining Ms Medina Desmond, Ms Michelle Grimes, Mr John Comer and Mrs Mary Comer and the theft of £7,773 from Mrs Comer between October 1st and 2nd, 2000.
The court heard that Mrs Comer was the supervisor of Ms Desmond at Graham O'Sullivan's restaurant in the Artane Castle Shopping Centre and she often baby-sat for her two children with her friend, Ms Michelle Grimes, who also worked there.
The Comers had gone out on the night in question at about 8 p.m. and the two girls were left in the house at Ayrfield Drive Coolock. Shortly after 11p.m., after the two children had been put to bed, there was a knock at the door and both girls became a little anxious.
Ms Desmond went to have a look from a side window but could see no one.
She opened the door and saw two masked men, one of whom was holding a handgun, in front of her. They forced their way into the house and started shouting that they were looking for the keys to Graham Sullivan's restaurant.
Ms Desmond said she didn't know where any keys were and said that Mrs Comer could have them with her. One of the men asked what time the Comers would be home and the witness said it was usually about 12 or half 12.
At some point one of the children woke up crying and Ms Desmond asked if she could go and see if she was all right. One of the men said she could but if she tried anything stupid he would shoot her. Both raiders now held a gun and one was holding a machete.
The raiders waited with the girls until they heard a taxi pull up to the house at about 12.30 a.m. Ms Desmond said the usual procedure was for her and Michelle to take the same taxi home that the Comers would arrive back in.
One of the men told the witness to go out and tell the taxi-driver that she was getting a lift home with her brother.
When she opened the door to the Comers, the two men jumped out from behind a door. They tied Mr Comer up and then asked his wife where the keys were. She said she had them. The taller of the two accused took Mrs Comer out into their own family car and the pair went to the restaurant.
When the raider was leaving with Mrs Comer he said to the other man, "if he tries anything funny shoot him in the leg", pointing at Mr Comer. Mrs Comer and the raider arrived back about 20 minutes later and the two men left in the same car.
Mr Comer was untied and the gardaí were called.