A well-known Co Limerick businessman and his family were subjected to a terrifying ordeal when armed raiders broke into their home and locked them in a hot press.
Seamus Morrissey and his wife Siobhan were reading bedtime stories to their two young daughters when masked thieves broke into their home at Coshlea, Galbally, Co Limerick, on the main road to Tipperary town.
The ordeal began at 9pm on Wednesday when the parents were saying good night to Rachel (7) and Laura (5).
Five masked men, one of whom was armed with a sawn-off shotgun, burst into the house and demanded cash. They forced Mr Morrissey to open a safe in the house, which contained €14,000. They then tied him up and locked him in a hot press with his wife and children before making off.
Mr Morrissey managed to escape and free his family. The ordeal, which gardaí say was well organised, lasted about five minutes. Nobody was injured but the family were said to be extremely shaken by the experience.
"Masked raiders broke into the house and demanded money from the family. The husband was tied up and they were put into a hot press. They made their escape immediately after the raid," said Det Sgt John Long, of Tipperary Garda station.
"I would appeal to anybody who was in the Lisard area of Galbally on the night between 7pm and 10pm if they saw anything suspicious at all to contact us here at the Tipperary town Garda station on 062-51212," he added.
A forensic examination of the scene was carried out yesterday and gardaí are also examining CCTV footage from the house.
It is understood the thieves gained access by jumping over a wall, avoiding the security gates at the front of the house.
Local county councillor John Gallahue said the robbery has left the entire community of Galbally stunned. "People are shocked out of their minds to think that something like this would happen in a peaceful little village at the foot of the Galtee mountains. To think that armed robbers would break into a young couple with young chidren is just intolerable," he said.
"I attended a community council meeting in Galbally and the people are just shocked. They can't believe that this would take place right on their own doorsteps.
"I know both families very well and they are fine, decent, honourable people working hard and making a living and that this would happen to them is just unbelievable," he added.
Mr Morrissey is a well-known Co Limerick businessman whose company supplies vending machines to pubs across the midwest.
Highly regarded in business circles, he is one of the main investors in Fitzpatrick's Sports Emporium, a new casino which opened in Limerick city earlier this year.
Also well-known in GAA circles, he has won county medals for his native Galbally in the senior football championship and has represented Limerick at junior level.