Detectives investigating an Irish stalker over his links to the man who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby, the British television personality, have located him in Dublin.
Acting upon a request from Essex police through Interpol, gardai are understood to be examining electronic devices belonging to the man, which were seized from a residence in the city’s northside.
Officers have spoken to the man and have ascertained that he is the person the UK authorities are interested in. A criminal investigation is under way.
The suspect at the centre of the investigation is Mark Mulligan, 49, who was jailed for three and a half years in 2014 for harassing a woman and saying he “would love to rape” her three-year-old son.
Ten years ago Mulligan, who at the time lived in Clongriffin, Dublin, was also convicted of possessing and producing child abuse images. His trial at Dublin circuit criminal court was told that he had made sexually explicit references online to RTE and TV3 reporters, celebrities and their children.
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Mulligan had exchanged vile messages with Gavin Plumb, 37, a security guard, who on Thursday was convicted at Chelmsford crown court in Essex of the plot to kidnap, rape and murder Willoughby, 43.
• Who is Gavin Plumb? The man found guilty of Holly Willoughby kidnap plot
Sickening messages between Plumb and a man called Marc — now known to be Mulligan — were read out during Plumb’s trial. From December 2021 to June this year, Plumb and Mulligan swapped messages on an app called Kik.
When Plumb told him they would have to find somewhere remote to keep the presenter, Mulligan replied: “Definitely in the middle of nowhere, so no one can hear her scream.” He added: “Celebrities, they think they’re full of themselves, they need to be f***ing put into place.”
In December 2022 Plumb set out his plans for what he would do once he got into Willoughby’s home, including using metal ties to restrain her and incapacitating her husband.
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In March last year he said in a voicemail to Mulligan, whom he had met online: “Plan of action? We’re gonna hit it hard, hit it at night, less traffic on the road. Chloroform both of them, that way then they can both be easily restrained. Pick out outfits of hers that we like and then obviously take her and the outfits with us and then we’re gone.”
Plumb later sent images to Mulligan of an order that he had made for chloroform. A bottle was found by police at his home in Harlow, Essex.
In another voice note sent over WhatsApp, Plumb told Mulligan he was “more than welcome to be part of it” as the plan was “going down”.
In the messages between Plumb and Mulligan, the Dubliner said he had been sent to jail for stalking. The court was shown dozens of messages between the pair and was told that police believed “Marc” was based in Ireland.
They talked in graphic terms about kidnapping Willoughby and in one message, Plumb said: “I’ve wanted this for years. I’m going to be living out my ultimate fantasy.”
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The two also discussed other female celebrities as potential targets as well as the late BBC presenter Jill Dando, who was shot dead on her doorstep in London in 1999.
Plumb was arrested last October after he outlined his plans to attack Willoughby to an undercover US police officer.
It is understood that as part of the criminal investigation in Ireland, gardai have spoken to Mulligan and are gathering evidence, based on the request from British police. Electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a laptop are being examined.
If necessary a liaison will be appointed between the gardai and Essex police. If the case progresses, it would not be unusual to have UK officers on the ground here. If the UK authorities issue proceedings against Mulligan, the case would be handled under a mutual assistance programme.
The source added: “Right now it’s a criminal investigation, requiring an interview and the gathering of evidence to start with.”
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The gardai said: “An Garda Siochana has commenced a criminal investigation following information received from a UK police force through Interpol. As this is an ongoing investigation, An Garda Siochana is not confirming any further details.”
The gardai said: “An Garda Siochana has commenced a criminal investigation following information received from a UK police force through Interpol. As this is an ongoing investigation, An Garda Siochana is not confirming any further details.”
Plumb has previous convictions for the attempted kidnap and false imprisonment of four women in three incidents. He is to be sentenced on Friday in Chelmsford.
