Two men have been jailed kidnapping a Cork businessman and his pregnant wife and family at gunpoint.
Former IRA member Gerard Clarke and Edward Gaffey had each pleaded guilty to a total of five counts including falsely imprisoning Gary and Katie O'Donovan, two firearms offences and threatening to kill Gary O'Donovan at his home at Dewberry, Mount Oval, Rochestown on May 2 ndand 3rd 2005.
Gaffey from Clountygoura Court, Dundalk, Co Louth had pleaded guilty to the offences at the outset.
Clarke from St John's Terrace, Upper John Street, Cork pleaded guilty last Friday after nine days of hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The court heard Clarke, originally from West Belfast, had previous convictions from Northern Ireland including one for attempted murder, three for conspiracy to murder, 12 for firearms, nine for explosives, two for kidnapping and three for terrorist offences including two for membership of the IRA.
Judge Patrick Moran sentenced him to 20 years and Gaffey to 12 years for falsely imprisoning the couple.