Violent raid on pharmacist’s home

ONE of the country’s most successful pharmacists was knocked unconscious and his wife, daughter and a friend locked in the boots of two cars during a violent robbery at the family’s multi-million euro south Dublin home.

Cormac O’Connell, who owns the O’Connell’s Pharmacy chain, had to be treated in hospital after being hit across the head with either the butt of a shotgun or an iron bar during the raid on the up-market Killiney house. Two men wearing balaclavas forced their way into Mount Mapas, an extensively renovated former hunting lodge on Victoria Road, close to Killiney Hill, at about 11.15pm on Saturday.

The men, one armed with a shotgun, the other with the iron bar, grabbed a number of personal items before striking Mr O’Connell, who is in his 60s, across the head, knocking him out. The three women, Mr O’Connell’s wife Nora, their daughter, who is in her 20s, and another middle-aged woman, were tied up, then taken outside the house and forced into the boots of the cars. When the millionaire pharmacist regained consciousness minutes later, he raised the alarm. Gardaí then managed to free the three women. Gardaí investigating the attack described one of the men as 6’2” and the other as 5’9”, but they have not established yet how they made their getaway.

The scene at the house has been preserved in the hope the raiders left behind clues.

Detectives were yesterday evening waiting before fully interviewing the victims, all of whom were described as being in shock following their ordeal.

Mr O’Connell was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in south Dublin but released early yesterday. The injured man owns five of the busiest pharmacies in Dublin, with outlets in Grafton Street, O’Connell Street and Westmoreland Street.

He and his wife have lived in Mount Mapas, a six-bedroom house standing on 1.25 acres on the corner of Vico Road, since buying the property for the equivalent of €2.9m in 1997. At the time, it was the most expensive residential property sold by public auction.

The following year the couple sold their former home in Dartry for 2.8m, the then second most expensive sale of its kind. Locals were shocked when they heard about the raid. Local councillor Donal Marren said, to this knowledge, this sort of incident had not happened before. “It’s a one-off,” he said.

At the time of the sale, Mount Mapas was described as having stunning sea views, handsome reception rooms for entertaining on a grand scale and space on the lawn for a helicopter pad.

Neighbours include the singer Enya, who lives in Ayesha Castle, overlooking Mount Mapas. U2 lead singer Bono also has a

mansion nearby.