Armed gang targeted wrong house in burglary

An armed gang subjected a family to a terrifying ordeal after they targeted the wrong house and left the parents and three young children locked in a bathroom for about an hour.

Daniel and Miriam O'Connell and their children are recovering from shock after four masked men armed with handguns entered their Co Limerick home at Balingoola, Grange, Kilmallock, on Wednesday night. ESB worker Daniel O'Connell (46) was pinned to the floor and tied up with cable ties by the gang members who demanded money and also wanted to know the whereabouts of a man named John.

Mr O'Connell said his name was Daniel and told the gang they were in the wrong house, insisting there was no money.

Took wallet

The intruders took his wallet which contained €300 in cash before locking the

family in the bathroom.

Mrs O’Connell was in the kitchen when two masked men came into the house through the unlocked back door shortly after 9.30pm and accosted her.

Her husband, who was watching a soccer match on television in the next room, came out to the kitchen and was shouting at the men when two other intruders came in through the front door.

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 a four-year-old boy – who were in bed.

The gang left the house after about 15 minutes but the family was not freed until 10.30pm when Mr O'Connell managed to raise the alarm by shouting out the bathroom window to a neighbour. Supt Alan Cunningham of Bruff Garda station said all lines of inquiry were being pursued.

Searches under way

“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 under way 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 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. It is not known what type of vehicle they used.

Local people in the area were shocked to learn about the 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 woman.