A Dublin man has been charged with hijacking a car and abducting a five-month-old baby who was inside at the time.
Noel Ryan (47) appeared in Dublin District Court yesterday after being arrested over the taking of the car in the city centre earlier this week.
It is alleged he got into the vehicle and drove off while the mother was outside taking a buggy from the boot and the child was still in the back seat. The car was found around two hours later with the child unharmed.
Judge Gerard Jones remanded the accused in custody after no bail application was made on his behalf.
Mr Ryan, of no fixed address, is charged with abduction by taking a child from the lawful control of her mother at Mountjoy Square West on September 23.
He is also charged with unlawful seizure of a car at the same time and date.
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Detective Garda Paul Griffin said he arrested the accused for the purpose of charging him at Mountjoy garda station yesterday. He was charged at 3.11pm, made no reply to either count after caution and was handed copies of the charges sheets.
Det Gda Griffin said he was objecting to bail.
However, defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght said the accused was not making a bail application at this time.
Judge Jones asked the garda for an outline of the allegations.
Det Gda Griffin said it was alleged the accused unlawfully seized a vehicle at 1.45pm on the day. It was taken “by force” from the mother of a five-month-old child who was in the rear seat, he said.
“She was at the rear of the vehicle taking the buggy out of the boot,” Det Gda Griffin said of the mother.
The woman was outside the car and it was alleged the accused entered it and drove off.
The car was recovered at 4pm and “the child was present, unharmed”, Det Gda Griffin said.
Judge Jones remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on October 3.