Manhunt under way after four are assaulted during robbery

Gardaí are hunting for the third member of an armed gang which assaulted four people during a violent burglary in Cork.

Two men arrested at the scene remained in custody last night after the incident at a rented house on the city’s northside early yesterday.

They were released without charge last night and a file is being sent to the DPP.

Three men armed with implements forced their way in to a rented house in Monastery Avenue, off Blarney St, at about 2.30am.

There were four people in the house at the time, two men and two women in their mid-20s.

They were all assaulted, believed to have been beaten about the head and upper bodies, during the incident.

Neighbours who heard screams raised the alarm and gardaí arrived within minutes.

However, as gardaí arrived, the three suspects fled the house by jumping through a rear window.

One suspect was arrested close to the house. A second was arrested nearby after a short chase. The third suspect fled the area on foot.

Gardaí detained two suspects, one aged 32 and the other aged 25, both with addresses in Cork City, under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They are being questioned at Gurranabraher Garda Station.

The two injured householders were taken to Cork University Hospital where they were treated for what gardaí described as “non-life threatening injuries”.

It is understood they had to receive several stitches to head wounds. Detectives were waiting for doctors to give the all-clear for them to be interviewed.

Supt Con Cadogan said they were now trying to establish a motive for the burglary.

He appealed for anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in or around the Monastery Hill area between 2.30am and 3am early yesterday to contact gardaí at Gurranabraher on 021 4946200 or the Garda confidential line 1800 666111.