OMEN
02-16-2009, 10:04 PM
Two members of a gang are being sought after a couple and their children were held at gunpoint at their home in Co Galway.
Just before 9pm last night, a gang of up to five men armed with a shotgun, a hatchet and other weapons burst into the home of Julien Flynn in Lackagh in Turloughmore, about 15km from Galway city.
The businessman, his wife and their four children - aged between one and seven - were in their home when the raiders forced their way in.
They used cable ties to restrain the couple and three of the children. Two female neighbours who arrived at the house a short time later were also overpowered and tied up.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Flynn said it had been a traumatic night for his family, but everybody was now safe and well.
'Somebody in heaven, thankfully, was looking down on us,' he added.
Gardaí say they became aware of the incident about 15 minutes into the attack and two uniformed gardaí went to the scene.
Following a struggle, one of the five raiders was arrested in the house; a second was taken into custody a short distance away.
The two who are believed to be from Dublin are being held at Mill Street Garda Station. One man is in his 20s and the other in his 50s.
One garda was struck with a hatchet but not seriously injured during the incident.
It is believed gardaí were alerted to what was taking place in the house by Mr Flynn's wife Emma; she was on the phone to her mother when the gang broke in.
A third man, who gardaí believe was involved in the raid, turned up at Galway University Hospitals seeking treatment for his injuries.
He is currently under armed garda observation at the hospital and is believed to have undergone surgery this afternoon.
A search is continuing for two other gang members who escaped with a small amount of money.
A vehicle that was recovered at the scene shortly after the foiled raid is being technically examined in Galway.
Gardaí have also appealed for any information about a second BMW X5 vehicle, which the gang members were believed to have used as a getaway car. It is a dark coloured X5 4x4 with a 2005 registration.
They have appealed to farmers and landowners in the area to be on the lookout for such a vehicle, which may have been abandoned in the aftermath of the raid.
RTE
Just before 9pm last night, a gang of up to five men armed with a shotgun, a hatchet and other weapons burst into the home of Julien Flynn in Lackagh in Turloughmore, about 15km from Galway city.
The businessman, his wife and their four children - aged between one and seven - were in their home when the raiders forced their way in.
They used cable ties to restrain the couple and three of the children. Two female neighbours who arrived at the house a short time later were also overpowered and tied up.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Flynn said it had been a traumatic night for his family, but everybody was now safe and well.
'Somebody in heaven, thankfully, was looking down on us,' he added.
Gardaí say they became aware of the incident about 15 minutes into the attack and two uniformed gardaí went to the scene.
Following a struggle, one of the five raiders was arrested in the house; a second was taken into custody a short distance away.
The two who are believed to be from Dublin are being held at Mill Street Garda Station. One man is in his 20s and the other in his 50s.
One garda was struck with a hatchet but not seriously injured during the incident.
It is believed gardaí were alerted to what was taking place in the house by Mr Flynn's wife Emma; she was on the phone to her mother when the gang broke in.
A third man, who gardaí believe was involved in the raid, turned up at Galway University Hospitals seeking treatment for his injuries.
He is currently under armed garda observation at the hospital and is believed to have undergone surgery this afternoon.
A search is continuing for two other gang members who escaped with a small amount of money.
A vehicle that was recovered at the scene shortly after the foiled raid is being technically examined in Galway.
Gardaí have also appealed for any information about a second BMW X5 vehicle, which the gang members were believed to have used as a getaway car. It is a dark coloured X5 4x4 with a 2005 registration.
They have appealed to farmers and landowners in the area to be on the lookout for such a vehicle, which may have been abandoned in the aftermath of the raid.
RTE