Night porters threatened in hotel raids

Two hotels were held up in robberies in Kilkenny overnight, gardaí said today.

Night porters were forced to hand over cash and a safe during the incidents at the Springhill Court Hotel and Lyrath House Hotel.

In the first robbery, a gang of men confronted the night worker at the Springhill Court on the Waterford Road at around 2.30am, demanding cash.

They forced him to hand over money from a safe in an office before tying him up and making off in a blue-coloured SUV.

About half an hour later, two men believed to be wielding knives threatened the night porter at Lyrath House on the Carlow Road.

The gang took the safe and made off in what was described as either a silver or blue-coloured SUV.

Investigating gardai said a 1993 Dublin-registered blue Mitsubishi Pajero was found a short distance from the hotel.

The vehicle is being preserved for technical examination by Garda forensic experts.