Armed gang hold ‘wrong family’ at gunpoint in Limerick burglary

Parents and children aged four, six and nine were locked in bathroom by masked, armed raiders

An armed gang subjected a family to a terrifying ordeal after they targeted the wrong house.

Daniel and Miriam O’Connell and their three young children are recovering from shock after four masked men armed with handguns entered their Co Limerick home at Balingoola, Grange, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, last night.

ESB worker Daniel O’Connell (46) was pinned to the floor and was tied up with cable ties by the gang who demanded money and also to know the whereabouts of a man named “John”.

Mr O’Connell told them his name was Daniel and that they were in the wrong house, insisting there was no money.

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The intruders took his wallet containing €300 in cash before locking the 46-year-old and his wife Miriam and their three children into the bathroom.

The 40-year old mother of three was in the kitchen when two masked men came into the house via the unlocked back door shortly after 9.30pm and accosted her.

Her husband, who was watching a soccer match in the next room, came out to the kitchen and was shouting at the men when two other intruders entered the house via the front door, which was also unlocked at the time.

The couple’s eldest child, a nine-year-old girl, heard the commotion which woke the two younger children, a six-year-old girl and four-year-old boy, who were in bed.

The gang left the house after about 15 minutes but the family were not freed until 10.30pm after Mr O’Connell managed to raise the alarm by shouting out the bathroom window at a neighbour.

According to Supt Alan Cunningham of Bruff Garda Station, all lines of inquiry are being pursued and gardaí are keeping an open mind as to the motive.

Supt Cunningham said it was a very “traumatic incident” which occurred in a remote and quiet area.

He said the family, who are well established and highly respected, have been living in the area for the past 14 years.

They are getting support from family and neighbours and assisting gardaí with their inquiries, he added.

“A full forensic examination has been conducted at the scene. An incident room has been set up at Bruff Garda station. House to house inquiries and searches are underway and CCTV in the locality will also be examined,” he said.

“We would be appealing to any person who was in the area of Ballingoola Grange between 9pm and 11pm to contact the gardaí at Bruff Garda Station, or if they saw any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to notify us.”

The four intruders all wore scarves covering their faces, and woollen hats.

Only two of the men spoke during the burglary and one of them had a Northern Ireland accent.

The men were aged between 30 and 50 and it’s not yet known what type of vehicle they used.

Locals in the area were shocked to learn about the armed burglary.

“It’s such a quiet neighbourhood you can hear the birds singing, I am shocked to the core that this could happen in this small community,” said one local woman.

“I am shocked. Up to five or six years ago you could go and leave your front and back door open. It is only in recent years since there have been so many burglaries and break ins that you would lock your door and be more conscientious.

“I just hope they are ok, it’s such an ordeal. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Gardaí at Bruff are investigating and can be contacted at (061) 382103.