A man has been remanded in custody after being charged with hijacking a car and abducting a five-month-old baby girl who was in the vehicle in Dublin city centre earlier this week.

Noel Ryan (47) of no fixed abode appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court this evening.

Judge Jones heard the car was seized with the child on board while the mother “was taking the buggy out of the boot” at Mountjoy Square West.

The incident led to Gardaí issuing an urgent Child Rescue Ireland alert and a public appeal for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the baby.

The car, with the child still in it, was found parked on North Richmond Street by a Garda unit on patrol.

She was not injured and was reunited with her parents.

Mr Ryan, who was arrested on Tuesday, was charged with abduction and car hijacking. He remained silent during the proceedings and has yet to indicate a plea.

Detective Garda Paul Griffin said Mr Ryan “made no reply to the charges after caution” and he was handed a copy of the charges.

The detective added that there were objections to bail but defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght said his client was not making a bail application at this stage.

Judge Jones remanded Mr Ryan in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on October 3rd.

Legal aid was also granted.

Reporting by: Tom Tuite