Gardaí hunt vehicles after attack on Limerick family

Gardaí investigating an attack last week on a Co Limerick couple and their three children are trying to locate two vehicles captured on CCTV cameras near the scene.

Four armed and masked men subjected ESB worker Danny O’Connell, his wife Miriam, and their children, aged nine, six, and four, to a terrifying ordeal when they stormed into their bungalow home at around 9.30pm last Wednesday at Ballingoola, Bruff.

The children were in bed while the couple were watching television.

Gardaí believe the family was not the intended target and the gang got the wrong address.

Gardaí are now focusing on two vehicles, a dark colour saloon car, and a silver long wheel-based van picked up on security systems in the area.

A Garda spokesman said: “We are interested in trying to locate the people in these vehicles.”

During the attack, Mr O’Connell had his hands tied and, along with his wife and children, locked in a bathroom. Mr O’Connell was repeatedly interrogated by the gang who then realised they were not at the intended target’s address.

When the raiders realised, they left within 10 minutes.

Prior to leaving, one raider, wearing a high-vis vest, freed Mr O’Connell’s hands before locking the bathroom door.

A neighbour, John Kenny heard Mr O’Connell’s cries for help and raised the alarm. The gang stole a sum of cash and were armed with hand guns. Gardaí believe they were professional criminals.

Meanwhile, three men arrested following two drugs finds in Limerick at the weekend were released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Two men in their 20s from Kilkenny were arrested when gardaí uncovered a drugs factory at Annagh, Lisnagry on Saturday.

Ecstasy tablets valued at €150,000 and other items including a drugs press were also found in the rented house.

In a follow-up operation, a man also in his 20s was arrested at a house in Caislean na hAbhainn, Castletroy, where €50,000 worth of cannabis herb was seized.