The Special Criminal Court ruled yesterday that a Dublin man accused of kidnapping a former National Irish Bank chief executive, Mr Jim Lacey, has a case to answer.
Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said that Mr Joseph Kavanagh's counsel, Mr Barry White SC, had submitted at the end of the prosecution case that the prosecution had not established from its evidence that there was a prima facia case to establish his client's guilt.
But the judge said the court had considered all the evidence, including the accused's explanation to gardai of his involvement in the Lacey kidnap.
Mr Justice Barr said the court was satisfied there was relevant evidence from which it might be inferred that Mr Kavanagh's contention that he was coerced into the Lacey kidnap was not true.
Accordingly, the court was satisfied that Mr Kavanagh had a case to answer on all the counts against him.
Following the court's ruling, Mr White said he wished to consult with his client and take further instructions in the light of the ruling.
The trial was adjourned until next Tuesday.
The court has heard that Mr Kavanagh told gardai he himself had been kidnapped and held for two weeks before agreeing to drive Mr Lacey to the National Irish Bank branch at College Green in Dublin where a ransom of £243,000 was loaded into a van.
Mr Lacey agreed to go to the bank after an armed gang forced their way into his home at Blackrock, Co Dublin, and tied up his wife and family.
Mrs Joan Lacey, her four children and their babysitter were later freed in a stables near the Phoenix Park.
It was the fourth day of the trial of Mr Joseph Kavanagh (38), of Benbulben Road, Crumlin, in Dublin.
He has denied falsely imprisoning Mr Lacey, Mrs Lacey and their daughter, Suzanne, at Blackrock, Co Dublin, on November 2nd, 1993.
Mr Kavanagh has also denied stealing cash from Mr Eugene Keenan and demanding cash with menaces.
He also denied having a handgun with intent to commit false imprisonment on November 2nd, 1993.