Hunt for gang after young traveller killed in attack

Gardaí are today hunting four men after a young man was killed in a slash hook attack.

The 23-year-old died after the deadly weapon was sunk into his head during a vicious assault in Sligo’s Cranmore housing estate.

It is understood he was a settled member of the Traveller community and the attack may have been related to a feud between families.

A gang wearing balaclavas set upon the man around 1.15am this morning while he was outside his mother’s house at Joe McDonnell Drive.

Detectives are scouring CCTV footage in the area and carrying out door-to-door inquiries in an attempt to trace the killers.

Immediately after the attack a dark-coloured Ford Focus car was seen speeding away from the estate not far from the town’s centre.

The young man was taken to Sligo General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6.10am.

Gardaí have launched an investigation and the scene has been sealed off for technical examination.

Crime scene experts from the Garda Technical Bureau and the State Pathologist have been asked to attend.

“Investigations are ongoing and at this stage no arrests have been made,” said a Garda spokesman.