Mother and children robbed after daylight carjacking terror

A MOTHER and her two young children were abducted by a man who hijacked their car in Dublin.

Gardai have launched a major investigation after a man opened the door of the car after it stopped at traffic lights at the junction of Zion Road and Orwell Road in Terenure at 3.40pm yesterday.

He got into the backseat beside her two children and claimed to have a weapon.

The shocked mother instantly began sounding her horn to raise the alarm but the man threatened her and the children, and demanded money. He then ordered the mother to drive to her home to get her bank ATM cards.

She was forced to drive the thug and her children – both aged under 10 – through the local neighbourhood to the family home. She retrieved the bank cards from her house and returned to the car, where she was then instructed to drive to the AIB bank in Rathgar.

She was ordered to withdraw cash, which she did, and gave it to him. He then threatened the family again and he forced her to drive towards the city centre.

At Portobello, he instructed her to stop the car and he got out and left the scene.

Alert

The gardai were contacted and they have issued an alert for the male. The woman and her two children were not physically harmed by their abductor.

They were travelling in a grey BMW estate car and gardai have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

"The culprit is described as being about 5'9" tall with a shaved head of dark hair," a garda spokesman said. "He was of medium build and was wearing a dark wax-type jacket and a dark scarf."

Gardai are particularly appealing for anybody who may have been close to the junction of Zion Road and Orwell Road at about 3.40pm and saw a suspicious male hanging around. Some people may recall hearing the woman sounding her horn at the location after the man got into her car.

Gardai are also appealing for anybody who may have seen unusual behaviour around the ATM at the AIB Bank in Rathgar at about 4.05pm to 4.10pm to contact them in Terenure on 01 6666400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Irish Independent