The man, aged in his 40s, was arrested this evening for an offence contrary to the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976, the Unlawful Seizure of Vehicles.
He was arrested on North Clarence street in the north inner city around 7pm on Tuesday evening. He was arrested less than 400m from where the car was recovered by Gardaí on North Richmond Street on Monday evening.
He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in North Dublin.
A garda manhunt in connection with the hijacking of the vehicle was launched after the incident on Monday afternoon.
The baby girl was found safe and well two hours after she went missing in Dublin’s north inner city.
She was in the back of a Nissan Qashqui on Mountjoy Square when a man jumped in and drove off with the child at around 1.50pm.
The mother had just stepped out of the car at the time.
The terrifying incident unfolded as the mother and child attended an appointment in the city.
The child was later found safe and well after the suspect abandoned the car having earlier attempted to use the mother’s bank card at a local service station.
Speaking at a media briefing after the girl had been safely located, Superintendent Liam Geraghty said gardaí received the report of the silver Nissan Qashqai being stolen from Mountjoy Square West in Dublin at approximately 1.50pm.
Garda manhunt is underway after car was hijacked with baby inside it
Gardai “immediately commenced searches in the north inner city” and emergency alerts were issued to all members on patrol.
A public alert for information was issued shortly after 3pm, followed by a formal child rescue Ireland (CRI) alert at 4pm. Shortly after the CRI, the car was recovered on North Richmond Street by gardaí on patrol.
Supt Geraghty said it was a “obviously a very traumatic time” for the mother and father but added: “Thankfully, they were all reunited together shortly after 4pm.”
Asked by reporters if there was any connection between the suspect and the family, Mr Geraghty said: “To the best of our knowledge there’s no connection between the suspect and the family.”
He said gardai currently believe that the incident appears to have been an opportunistic crime, pending further investigation.
The car drove down Mountjoy Square West and on to Dorset Street
The suspect was wearing dark clothing and a baseball hat at the time.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – September 23rd
