Families raided by gang, jury hears

Former associates will link three men, two from Dublin, to aggravated burglaries in Co Limerick during which neighbouring families were allegedly overpowered by an armed gang, a jury heard yesterday.

In one incident, three siblings in their 70s were falsely imprisoned and robbed.

Patrick Roche, aged 52, of Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, and Philip Roche, aged 24, of the same address, have pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to charges of aggravated burglaries at the Garvey family home, Sunville House, Pallasgreen, on April 16, 2012, when a gang armed with a sawn-off shotgun, a baseball bat, and a sledge hammer smashed their way in. They also deny a charge of aggravated burglary at the home of William, Nora, and Christina Creed, at Ballyluddy, Pallsgreen, on May 31, 2012.