Garda making progress in hunt for Mayo knife-wielding gang

GARDAÍ are believed to be making progress in tracking down a rampaging knife-wielding gang in Co Mayo.

The gang of at least three men is suspected of carrying out two unprovoked attacks in Ballinrobe early on Sunday.

One victim suffered serious head injuries after being repeatedly kicked while on the ground.

In the second attack, a man was slashed across the back of his neck with a Stanley blade.

Detectives investigating the attacks were saying little yesterday for operational reasons.

A Garda spokesman would only confirm that they were following “a definite line of inquiry”.

The first attack took place at 3.30am on New Street in the south Mayo town. Two men, aged 27 and 32, were walking down the street when they were confronted by around three men. Both of them were subjected to an unprovoked attack. The 27-year-old man suffered serious kicks to his head after he fell to the ground. The two were taken to Castlebar General Hospital, but the 27-year-old was subsequently transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious head injuries.

Shortly after that attack, two men, aged 20 and 31, were assaulted on Neale Road. Both received stab wounds. One of them was attacked from behind and slashed across the back of his neck with a Stanley blade. They were both taken to Castlebar Hospital.

These assaults follow two knife attacks, both in Mayo, last week, in which a 24-year-old father was killed and a 32-year-old garda was seriously injured.

Gardaí from across the division are coordinating their inquiries.

Meanwhile, in another assault in Mayo, a 63-year-old man suffered a suspected broken leg after thieves beat him in his home before fleeing with €60. The retired construction worker underwent surgery yesterday.

Gardaí said the victim sustained injuries to his leg and arms when he was overpowered after answering a knock on the door in Charlestown.

One of the attackers, aged in his early 20s, was arrested a short time after the assault at around 10pm on Sunday. The second man, thought to be around 20, remains at large.