A Co Laois court yesterday heard a remarkable story of courage from a 10-year-old boy who clung to a moving SUV in which his sister had been kidnapped.
The court hailed the 10-year-old as a hero for his dogged pursuit of Micheal Martin, of Waterford city, who pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of the 11-year-old girl.
The children were playing in a rural area when Martin pulled up close to them in his SUV before grabbing the girl and pulling her into the car through the driver’s door and across to the passenger’s seat.
Realising what had happened, the boy chased the vehicle, latching on to the open window and swiping at the driver. As the vehicle moved off the boy hung on with his feet dangling above the ground, which distracted Martin enough that the girl was able to escape the SUV.
The children, along with another sibling who was present, were able to give gardaí a description and partial registration, which was similar to a recent sighting in Durrow. Gardaí had arrested Martin by the following day.
Freelance reporter Eoghan MacConnell was at the courthouse yesterday and he spoke with Pat Kenny on today’s show to erun us through the story in full, and yesterday’s happenings in court. Listen below
