Gardaí investigate alleged abduction

A SPECIAL incident room has been set up at Galway Garda Station to co-ordinate an investigation into the alleged abduction of a man in the Mervue area by three men last Saturday evening.

Three men – understood to be of UK origin – were arrested by Gardaí last Saturday evening following an incident that began in the Barry Avenue area of Mervue shortly after 5pm.

One man, who was in a house in Barry Avenue, is understood to have been forced into a car by the three men, but a short time later, Gardaí were on the scene after the alarm was raised by another person who had noticed the suspicious activity.

The three-man gang is understood to have been targeting one individual from the greater Galway area in their ‘mission’ and then drove off with him in the direction of Salthill shortly after.  A short time later, Gardaí located a van with an English registration in the Salthill area and arrested three men with UK addresses – the man who had been abducted by the trio was then released when the arrests were made. It is understood that the three men who were arrested were unarmed.

The trio were subsequently taken to Galway Garda Station, Mill Street, where they were questioned for a number of hours on Saturday evening by detectives, before a direction was sought from the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions)

They had been questioned by Gardaí in relation to assault and false imprisonment allegations – they were subsequently released with a file to be forwarded to the DPP.

A Garda spokesperson said that a very serious view was being taken of what had happened with an incident room established at Mill Street Station under a senior Garda Investigating Officer.

“We are appealing for any witnesses to what went on – either in the Mervue or Salthill areas – to make contact with us at Galway Garda Station (091 538000). Three arrests were made in relation to allegations of assault and false imprisonment – the three people arrested were questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

“Following questioning, the three were released, with a file being prepared for forwarding to the DPP,” said the Garda spokesperson.