A SIEGE at a remote north Cork farmhouse ended suddenly last night when gardai in riot gear burst into the house and overpowered a 28 year old man who had earlier threatened violence on his family.
The siege had been going on since 10 p.m. on Sunday, when Mr Michael O'Donoghue of Cullen used knives to threaten family members who were forced to flee the house.
Supt Michael Murray of Kanturk said Mr O'Donoghue had returned from England, where he had been working four days ago, to mark the fourth anniversary of his mother's death. The family members were not named.
It is understood that after his sister, brother and father had fled the farmhouse, Mr O'Donoghue barricaded himself in and refused repeated requests by the gardai to give himself up.
Last night, shortly before 9 p.m., a riot squad team broke down the door to the farmhouse and within seconds Mr O'Donoghue was in Garda custody and on his way to hospital. Supt Murray said the matter was over in seconds and there was no violence.
As journalists arrived at the farmhouse, local people warned them off. Supt Murray said feelings were running high.