Irish fugitive wanted for kidnap and theft arrested near Alicante-Elche airport

The van held 134,000 Irish pounds in cash at the time, and the kidnap and theft is just one of 11 crimes the accused faces trial for, among which are illegal possession of firearms and forming part of an organised criminal gang.

He is expected to be handed two life sentences if found guilty, and has been under a European arrest warrant since he fled the Republic of Ireland several years ago.

The accused, who has not been named, had been hiding out on the Costa Blanca and was caught near El Altet (Alicante-Elche) airport whilst he was waiting in his car for someone.

The latest crime was in Dublin in 2010, after he and an accomplice had been keeping watch over a man who had access to vans with blacked-out windows for carrying large sums in cash to banks and safe deposits.

The victim was approached at gunpoint by two masked individuals just outside his home and forced inside, where his mother and niece were held hostage.

Both the recently-caught fugitive and his partner in crime ordered the victim to steal a van he had access to and which was known to have 137,000 Irish pounds in cash inside, as ransom for the women's release.

He was told to leave the van and the money in a car park.

His niece and mother were released seven hours later, but the cash has never been found.

In total, the fugitive faces 62 years in jail for the operation.

Photograph of Alicante-Elche airport in El Altet, by air terminal governing body AENA