Police hunt for kidnap gang

The boy and his father were taken from their Greenisland home

The family at the centre of a nine-hour kidnap ordeal is helping the police as efforts continue to catch the gang behind the ransom demand.

An 11-year-old boy was tied-up, gagged, and left in the boot of a car in the early hours of Thursday morning.

He was only released when his father - a postmaster in Newtownabbey north of Belfast - handed over the ransom money.

Police believe there were at least two or three people involved in the kidnapping who were hooded when they arrived at the house.

At least one of them had a gun.

Detectives said they have not ruled out paramilitary involvement in the incident.

The ordeal began when the boy and his father were woken by a gang at their home near the Upper Road in Greenisland, just north of Belfast.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the small business community

Stewart Dickson
Family friend

The boy was put in the boot of the family's car while his father was taken away in the kidnappers' vehicle.

He was assaulted, threatened, burned with cigarettes and then ordered to get a ransom together - understood to be in the region of £30,000.

He took the money to Ballyduff Brae in Newtownabbey where he was met by a man on a scrambler bike.

He was given the keys to his car and told he would find his son at the remote Knockagh Monument on the hill above Greenisland.

Local district policing partnership member Stewart Dickson, who is a friend of the family, said their ordeal had horrified local people.

Stewart Dickson said local people were horrified by the incident

"This incident and indeed other incidents that have happened have sent shockwaves through the small business community," he said.

"Anyone who has access to cash or a safe or something like that must be really thinking about their security.

"I know they get good advice from various agencies but they are in a vulnerable situation."

Police, who described the incident as despicable, are still searching for the gang