Intruders batter garda’s son with hurley while asleep in bed

THE son of a garda is still recovering in hospital from what has been described as a barbaric attack as he lay asleep in bed.

He received a broken cheekbone, broken jaw, damaged teeth and wounds to the scalp, hands and legs.

Gardaí have recovered a blood-spattered hurley used in the assault, which took place at Mount St Vincent Cottages in Limerick.

The 28-year-old was in bed when two intruders set upon him with the hurley and a letter opener.

The victim, from Co Limerick, is being treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. The attack took place at about 5.20am on Sunday.

A spokesman at Roxboro Road Garda Station said: “This was a totally unprovoked barbaric attack on this man. The two assailants were shouting that they wanted laptops. One had a hurley and repeatedly beat the victim when they burst into his room. The other had a letter opener which broke in the attack. The hurley has been recovered. The victim received horrific injuries.”

Two other people in the house were awakened by shouts. One grappled with the attackers before they broke free and ran off.

The hurley has been forensically examined and gardaí have appealed for any person who may have been in the Punch’s Cross or New Street areas at around 5am on Sunday to contact them.