Family held hostage by gang were wrong target

Gardaí believe that the Co Limerick family held hostage by an armed gang on Wednesday night were targeted mistakenly.

Four men wearing balaclavas and armed with handguns entered the home of Danny and Miriam O’Connell at Ballingoola, 8km from Bruff in Limerick at around 9.30pm. Two entered by the front door, which was open, and two came in the back door. One of the gang pushed Mr O’Connell, 46, and bound his hands behind his back with cable ties.

They then brought him, along with his wife, Miriam, 40, and their two daughters, aged 9 and 6, and their son, aged 4, to the bathroom of their bungalow where they locked them in.