GARDAÍ HAVE released three men they had been questioning in connection with an attack on the home of an elderly woman and her family.
The 80-year-old was at home with her middle-aged son and daughter in Kilmurry McMahon in west Clare on Friday night when three men wearing balaclavas approached the rural dwelling at about 9pm.
The men smashed a window and a glass panel door but did not gain access to the house.
Instead, they threatened the occupants with a knife through the smashed window and demanded cash.
A small amount of cash was handed over and the gang fled the scene, leaving the family traumatised. The alarm was quickly raised by the occupants while a neighbour spotted the three youths get into a car and leave the scene. The quick-thinking neighbour noted the vehicle registration and notified gardaí at Kilrush who issued a county-wide alert to other stations and patrols.
The car was seen heading towards Ennis so gardaí prepared to intercept the vehicle on the outskirts of the town. Uniformed officers and armed detectives stopped it and arrested the three occupants, who were then taken to Kilrush for questioning.
On Saturday morning, the scene was technically examined while a number of follow-up searches were also conducted.
A number of items believed to have been used by the gang were discovered and are being forensically examined. A sum of cash was also recovered.
The family members were said to be shocked by the incident and were being comforted by neighbours over the weekend.
The three men were detained overnight on Friday and questioned all day on Saturday before being released without charge. A file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.