Three hurt in armed raid

A gang of armed masked raiders tied up and attacked three men during a violent burglary in Co Carlow, gardaí said tonight.

Five attackers wearing balaclavas and brandishing baseball bats and knives entered the house in Fruithill, Graiguecullen, at around 4.30am and tied up a number of male occupants.

Three of the men were attacked with knives and treated for facial injuries at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny.

A number of other people were in the house during the burglary, but it is still not clear if any children were present at the time.

It is understood the victims of the attack were settled members of the Travelling community.

“One of the men has been released and the other two have been transferred to St James’s Hospital in Dublin,” said a garda spokesman.

“Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.”

The attackers escaped with a small quantity of cash and took a four-wheel drive vehicle from the premises.

The Silver Mitsubishi vehicle was later recovered a short distance from the scene and is being technically examined.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen the jeep or noticed anything unusual in the area between midnight and 6am to come forward.