AN IRISH businessman, who was freed by police in Sierra Leone this week after a kidnapping ordeal, has left the west African country to return home.
Gerard Mulconry, a publican from Parteen, Co Clare, travelled to Sierra Leone to pursue a legal case against a number of local people after he invested in a gold-mining development which later turned out to be bogus.
A police source in the capital, Freetown, said Mr Mulconry – who was unharmed in the incident – left the country yesterday. He was kidnapped by a group of armed men outside his hotel in the city last Monday but was rescued by police a short time later. Three men were arrested and remained in custody yesterday.
In his east Clare village of Parteen, meanwhile, locals spoke of their shock at hearing of Mr Mulconry’s ordeal. A native of Labasheeda in west Clare, Mr Mulconry, or “Flash” as he is better known locally, has been running the Tailrace bar in Parteen for the past 20 years.
He lives next door to the pub with his wife. The couple have two grown-up daughters. There was nobody at the house yesterday and the bar manager at the Tailrace had no comment to make on Mr Mulconry’s ordeal.
Further up the village, locals spoke of their shock at the news. “He is a sound fellow and very popular locally,” said one. “Everybody knows ‘Flash’ but the first people heard about what happened in Sierra Leone was when we saw it on the paper today.
“He’s big into the flying and has been flying for years. He’s originally from west Clare but has had the pub here for about 20 years. Nobody can believe what happened to him. It sounds like something from a movie.”
Another local described the publican as a “flamboyant and colourful character”.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Cathal Crowe has been holding his clinics at the Tailrace pub for the past six years and celebrated his election victory party there last year.
“I know Ger very well and I like him and have very good time for him,” Mr Crowe said. “I was absolutely shocked when I heard about his. I wasn’t aware of any of this happening in the background but nor is it my business.
“I’m shocked in one sense that he had to go through this horrific ordeal and I also feel very sorry for him that his private affairs have now become very public.
“I would feel sorry for him in that regard but the most important thing of all is that he is healthy, safe and sound. From what I’ve read the outcome could have been a lot worse.”
Mr Crowe said the last time he spoke to Mr Mulconry – a qualified pilot – was on the eve of the British election. He said he and Willie O’Dea were sitting at the bar chatting with the publican about British politics and local sport.
“That’s the kind of man he is,” Mr Crowe added. “He is very well liked and very affable and you could chat to him about anything. He runs a very good pub and I look forward to seeing him back there in a few days time hopefully and I hope that everything has been resolved and he can go back to his normal way of living.”