A lost drug shipment was suspected of sparking the appalling violence that resulted in a hard-working and loving family “losing everything”.

It was a horrific and violent attack on a young family that caused “catastrophic changes” to their lives and “shocked an entire nation”.

“I hate going to bed because I wake up at night with bad dreams.”

An eight-year-old girl told gardaí she thought her “daddy was going to die” when he was assaulted by an armed gang during an aggravated burglary in the family home, a court heard yesterday.

Mark Corcoran can remember the phone call distinctly.

Four men have admitted being involved in an aggravated burglary while in possession of two guns and a machete at the rural home of a young family last year.

A gang who broke into the house of a couple and their three daughters last week allegedly threatened to “shoot the small kids” before fleeing the scene with cash and jewellery, a court has heard.

Gardaí were last night questioning seven men in relation to an aggravated burglary in which a couple and their three children aged under eight were subjected to a “frightening” experience in their home.

A PRISONER who was slashed across the throat by another prisoner with a blade had his case for negligence against the Department of Justice dismissed yesterday.

Celtic 4 Hamilton 0

Celtic 1 St Mirren 1

St Mirren 1 Celtic 5

Rangers 2 St Mirren 0

St Mirren 0 Rangers 1