Former associates will link three men, two from Dublin, to aggravated burglaries in Co Limerick during which neighbouring families were allegedly overpowered by an armed gang, a jury heard yesterday.

A pensioner left for dead after been attacked by burglars armed with knives and a sword, has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the sentence imposed of one of the criminal gang, after he walked free from court.

A 29-year-old man charged in connection with a ‘barbaric’ attack on three pensioner siblings at their isolated home in Limerick will serve no time in jail after receiving a suspended jail sentence.

A man who through financial difficulties was at the beck and call of a violent gang, drove armed and masked men on a raid during which they subjected two elderly sisters and their bachelor brother to what was described as a barbaric attack at their isolated rural home, a court heard.

A 27-year old man has appeared in court today charged in connection with a burglary at the home of three elderly siblings.