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Man guilty of 'tiger' kidnapping | Man guilty of 'tiger' kidnapping |
(about 18 hours later) | |
A 22-year-old man has been found guilty of holding two women captive in a 'tiger' kidnapping in Strabane in 2006. | A 22-year-old man has been found guilty of holding two women captive in a 'tiger' kidnapping in Strabane in 2006. |
Joseph Patrick Barr from Bridge Street in the town was convicted of holding the women against their will. | Joseph Patrick Barr from Bridge Street in the town was convicted of holding the women against their will. |
He was also found guilty of kidnapping one of them and robbing the other of £83,910, from the post office where she was an employee. | He was also found guilty of kidnapping one of them and robbing the other of £83,910, from the post office where she was an employee. |
Belfast Crown Court heard that forensic evidence connected Barr to the crimes. He will be sentenced next month. | Belfast Crown Court heard that forensic evidence connected Barr to the crimes. He will be sentenced next month. |
The court heard that the women were taken captive in their flat in October 2006. | The court heard that the women were taken captive in their flat in October 2006. |
The following morning one of the women was forced to go to the post office where she worked and put the contents of the safe in a holdall. | The following morning one of the women was forced to go to the post office where she worked and put the contents of the safe in a holdall. |
Her flatmate was released after she took the money to a collection point. | Her flatmate was released after she took the money to a collection point. |
The judge told the court that forensic evidence connected to Barr's shoes placed him in the women's flat at the time of the incident. | The judge told the court that forensic evidence connected to Barr's shoes placed him in the women's flat at the time of the incident. |
The term 'tiger kidnapping' stems from the way the criminals stalk their victim before striking. | |
Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector John Gilmore praised the bravery of the two women. | Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector John Gilmore praised the bravery of the two women. |
"These two victims gave evidence over a number of days in the trial which was very traumatic for them - as was their ordeal of being held at gunpoint by a gang of masked men. | "These two victims gave evidence over a number of days in the trial which was very traumatic for them - as was their ordeal of being held at gunpoint by a gang of masked men. |
"This is something which I'm sure will stay with them for the rest of their lives." | "This is something which I'm sure will stay with them for the rest of their lives." |
Although two of the three members of the robbery gang have not been caught, Detective Inspector Gilmore revealed there were no new lines of inquiry in the case. | Although two of the three members of the robbery gang have not been caught, Detective Inspector Gilmore revealed there were no new lines of inquiry in the case. |
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