Limerick gardai search two graveyards as part of investigation into aggravated burglaries

GARDAI have searched two graveyards, the Leader can reveal, as part of an extensive and wide-ranging investigation into two aggravated burglaries in County Limerick that shocked local communities.

An incident room has been set up in Bruff garda station following the attacks - which have been linked to the drugs trade -in the early hours of Easter Sunday.

Armed and masked assailants smashed their way into houses in Kilteely and Kilfinane, assaulted two men who had to be hospitalised, and left scenes which have been described as a “bloodbath”.

A video has emerged on social media of the aftermath in one of the houses which shows a blood-spattered wall and more blood on a window sill, which dripped down a radiator and pooled on the carpet.

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The two victims, aged in their 30s and 50s, who both suffered laceration wounds from sharp-edged implements, received treatment in the same ward in University Hospital Limerick for their injuries.

An extensive and ongoing investigation was launched with witness statements being taken and the areas in question being trawled for CCTV.

Around 30 gardai made up of the Regional Armed Support Unit, detectives and uniformed officers carried out dawn raids in Kilteely on Thursday, April 24.

A garda spokesperson said: “A quantity of suspect controlled drugs was seized as a result of the searches. No further information is available at this time.”

The Leader understands that gardai searched the graveyard in Kilteely to see if any items may have been hidden within its confines.

Gardai then headed in convoy to Kilmallock where they carried out further searches in the town and open areas. 

Again, officers carried out an extensive search of the graveyard in the hunt for evidence.

A garda source said: “Every effort is being made to bring these perpetrators to justice.”

Gardai continue to appeal to anybody who may have been in the Kilteely or Kilfinane areas between 2am and 7am on Easter Sunday morning and witnessed any suspicious behaviour to contact Bruff garda station on 061 382940.

They say all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

It is understood four men broke into the house in Kilteely at around 3am on Sunday April 20 and attacked a  man, aged in his 30s,  who received a laceration to his leg.

A number of items were stolen including jewellery and keys to a car which was driven off by one of the perpetrators.

Some three hours later,  four assailants smashed their way into a house in a housing estate in Kilfinane at around 6am.

According to local sources, they “hit the wrong house” and the victim, aged in his 50s, who was subsequently injured was not their intended target.

A video of the aftermath of the Kilfinane aggravated burglary shows the blood-spatter from slash wounds on a wall. 

One local said it is “like a horror movie”.

The Leader has also learned a car was later discovered burned out on Easter Sunday morning on the outskirts of Hospital village which also forms part of the garda probe.