Woman dragged into car in Kildare after threats to petrol bomb her home over missing dog
A woman in Castletown, Celbridge, Co Kildare, was allegedly dragged into a car and driven around for 90 minutes after threats to petrol bomb her home in a dispute over a missing dog. Samantha Leeson, 34, and Richard O'Leary, 36, were charged with burglary and threatening to damage property and remanded in custody at Blanchardstown District Court on 25 June 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested24 Jun
2 reports - Charged23 Jun
3 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe incident involved the alleged false imprisonment of a woman. (garda.ie)
- whatBoth the man and the woman are in their 30s. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí are investigating the alleged false imprisonment of a woman at a property in Co Kildare on Monday night. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman was allegedly held against her will in an incident that ended just after 10pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man and a woman were arrested in a late night operation in Tallaght, west Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo individuals were arrested in Tallaght, Dublin 24, within 90 minutes of gardaí first being alerted. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two suspects are both in their 30s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo people were arrested in relation to an alleged false imprisonment of a woman in Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendants allegedly arrived at the victim's home in a grey VW Jetta at around 10.10pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLeeson, O'Leary and another male allegedly entered the house after the victim released the door latch. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was allegedly physically dragged by her clothing and pushed into the back of the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThreats were made to petrol bomb the woman's home (irishtimes.com)
- whatLeeson was allegedly driving the Volkswagen Jetta (irishtimes.com)
- whatA panel on the front door was broken (irishtimes.com)
- whatLeeson had been friends with the complainant but the relationship deteriorated (irishtimes.com)
- whatLeeson has two young children (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred in Castletown, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whereThe scene was sealed off at Castletown, Celbridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred in the Castletown area of Celbridge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe two suspects were arrested in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí stopped the car at Fortunestown Lane in Tallaght about an hour and a half later (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on Monday 23 June 2025. (garda.ie)
- whenThe court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday 25 June 2025 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at approximately 10.10pm on Monday evening (23 June 2025). (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe dispute was over a missing dog (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspects were held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the eastern region. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspects can be interviewed for up to 24 hours without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigating gardaí appealed for witnesses to contact Leixlip Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrests were made within 90 minutes of Gardaí first being alerted. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe scene was preserved for technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth were arrested on Monday night and charged on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained CCTV footage with audio from a neighbouring premises showing the car arriving (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man and a woman were charged in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
- chargeBoth are charged with burglary to commit an offence of criminal damage at a property at The Walled Garden in Castletown, Celbridge, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth are also charged with criminal damage and putting the victim in fear that they would damage her front door and window. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charges are under the Theft and Fraud and Criminal Damage Act carrying 14- and 10-year sentences (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey are due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court No. 1. (garda.ie)
- courtBoth were refused bail at Blanchardstown District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Conrad Casey objected to their bail (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe alleged injured party was not present in court (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail objection was based on concerns about witness intimidation (irishtimes.com)
- courtLeeson will face her next hearing at Blanchardstown District Court via video link on 1 July (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused have yet to indicate pleas (irishtimes.com)
- courtLegal aid was granted to both accused (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe burglary charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years and the criminal damage charge a maximum of 10 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspects are a woman and a man, both in their 30s, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLeeson is a mother of two. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jun2025Woman was abducted in Kildare after alleged threats to petrol bomb her house in row over dog
Bail hearing details: both accused remanded in custody; O'Leary to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday, Leeson at Blanchardstown District Court via video link on 1 July; charges under Theft and Fraud and Criminal Damage Act carry 14- and 10-year sentences; legal aid granted; pleas not yet indicated.
victim, femaleaccused, Samantha Leeson, 34, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Leesonaccused, 36, male, irish (judged from name) - 25 Jun2025Pair in court after woman allegedly dragged from house over whereabouts of dog
First court appearance; bail refused for both defendants; O'Leary to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 27 June 2025, Leeson via videolink at Blanchardstown District Court on 1 July 2025.
accused, Richard O'Leary, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard O'Learyaccused, Samantha Leeson, 34, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Leesonvictim, female - 24 Jun2025Two arrested over alleged false imprisonment of woman as gardai issue appeal
Reports the arrest of the two suspects within 90 minutes of Gardaí being alerted, their detention under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and the preservation of the scene for technical examination.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 24 Jun2025Two arrested over alleged false imprisonment of woman in Co Kildare
Details of the arrest operation: suspects arrested in Tallaght, Dublin 24, within 90 minutes of gardaí first being alerted; held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the eastern region; appeal for witnesses to contact Leixlip Garda station.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female - 23 Jun2025Court Appearance: Alleged False Imprisonment, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, 23rd June 2025
Confirms the false imprisonment charge and the scheduled court appearance at Blanchardstown District Court No. 1 on 25 June 2025 at 10.30am.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female