Family terrorised by armed raiders

GARDAÍ were yesterday hunting an armed gang which subjected a family to a terrifying ordeal.

The raiders were confronted by gardaí at the scene but managed to flee after they opened fire on the officers.

The gang targeted filling station owner Pat Twomey at his home in Monard, Co Tipperary, early yesterday morning.

Inspector Paschal Feeney of Tipperary Garda Station said: “I would say we are dealing with a calculated and ruthless gang.”

Insp Feeney, who is leading the investigation, said the three-man gang jumped on Mr Twomey as he returned to his house, which adjoins his filling station, at 12.15am.

The raiders struck Mr Twomey on the side of his head with a shotgun, accidentally discharging the gun into the kitchen ceiling.

They terrorised Mr Twomey and his wife and two teenage children, ransacking the house, demanding money and repeatedly threatening them.

Insp Feeney said gardaí received a 999 call at 12.22am, reporting a burglary at Twomey’s Filling Station.

“Gardaí immediately responded and three members initially went to the scene,” Insp Feeney said.

“One of our members went to the back door.. he saw the owner of the shop lying on the ground. At that moment, three masked raiders burst out the back door towards the garda. They discharged a shot then in the direction of the following garda and then fired a second shot.”

None of the officers were injured. The three raiders escaped on foot with an undisclosed sum of money to an adjoining building site and then onto an open field. Gardaí later recovered part of the money and a balaclava, which they hope may provide DNA evidence, at the building site.

Gardaí suspect a fourth member of the gang was waiting in a nearby car.

Mr Twomey was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel with head injuries. Insp Feeney said he would make a full recovery.

He said the raiders were between 5ft9in and 5ft11in in height, medium to average build, all wearing black balaclavas.

He appealed to anyone who was in the area from 11.15pm on Sunday onwards and who saw anything to contact Tipperary Garda Station at (062) 80670.

Gardaí are also anxious talk to the occupants of white Ford old-type Escort or a white Ford Sierra Cosworth which was in the area at the time of the robbery.