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Stuart MacGill's partner breaks silence after kidnapping ordeal

Maria O'Meagher, pictured right, has spoken out after the alleged kidnapping of her partner, former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill, was reported this week. Picture: Instagram
Maria O'Meagher, pictured right, has spoken out after the alleged kidnapping of her partner, former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill, was reported this week. Picture: Instagram

Stuart MacGill's partner Maria O'Meagher has broken her silence after the former Test cricketer was allegedly kidnapped by four men, one of whom is believed to be her brother.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, O'Meagher said she and MacGill were in the midst of a 'horrible situation', adding that she was 'fearful' for her parents and children.

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MacGill was allegedly taken from a street corner from Cremorne, in Sydney's north shore, thrown into the back of a car and driven to a property in Bringelly, more than 60 kilometres away.

Police say MacGill was then physically assaulted and threatened with a firearm, before his alleged captors then let him go in Belmore, where the former cricketer called a taxi to go to a hotel, where he remained for a week before contacting police.

O'Meagher confirmed she and MacGill were still together, adding that she and her brother, alleged perpetrator Marino Sotiropolous, were not close.

“We are all still frightened ... I no longer feel safe (and) I really do not understand what happened," she said.

“My brother and I led very different lives and although we were brother and sister we weren’t that close.

“Everyone’s fine and everyone’s well, but I’m not interested in talking about what happened.

“Stuart is safe and we are both OK.

“Unfortunately I am caught in the middle of a horrible situation but all I can do is support Stu and my family.

“My elderly parents and children are really suffering and I am fearful for them. They are really in the dark about what happened.”

O’Meagher is the owner of Neutral Bay restaurant Aristotle’s, where MacGill has worked as manager since 2018.

There is no suggestion she had any involvement in the alleged abduction.

Stuart MacGill's 'horribly traumatic experience'

Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Holton said MacGill had only been held for an hour at the property but it would have been a "frightful hour".

"You'd be questioning what could potentially happen to you in that time," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"It would be a horribly traumatic experience to endure."

MacGill sustained minor injuries but did not require medical treatment.

The former Test spinner's "significant fear" led to his delay in reporting, Det Supt Holton told reporters.

Stuart MacGill was the victim of an alleged kidnapping that took place last April. (Photo by Phil Walter/EMPICS via Getty Images)
Stuart MacGill was the victim of an alleged kidnapping that took place last April. (Photo by Phil Walter/EMPICS via Getty Images)

"Everyone experiences trauma differently," he said.

"To be dragged into a car, driven to a remote location, physically assaulted, threatened with a firearm, held for a period of time then dumped, I think you'd be pretty worried about your own personal safety, the safety of your family and your friends," he said.

The men's motive was purely financial - to obtain "as much money as they possibly could" - but they didn't issue a ransom demand and didn't end up with any money.

He said there was "no suggestion" drugs were involved.

"I can say that his kidnapping is not involved in any other backstory that leads to him having any personal debt to people that he had to pay back," Det Supt Holton said when asked if MacGill owed money.

Police say they will be "closely monitoring" MacGill's welfare.

With AAP

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