GARDAÍ HAVE launched an investigation into an attack on a couple in their home during an apparent botched robbery.
The couple, who are in their 60s, were struck with iron bars by two masked men who broke into their home in Co Longford in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The couple were hospitalised, but their injuries are not life threatening.
They were at their home in Lisameen, Ballinalea, Co Longford, when two masked men gained access to the house after breaking a window at the rear of the property at 1am.
The raiders demanded money from the couple. One of them struck the 61-year-old woman on the head with an iron bar. Her husband, aged 62 years, was struck a number of times in the stomach by the other raider, who also used an iron bar.
The raiders, who were wearing balaclavas, fled empty-handed. The couple’s two grown-up children, a man and woman in their 20s, are also believed to have been in the house at the time but were not injured.
The couple were taken to Mullingar General Hospital. The woman required stitches to a head wound and was discharged a number of hours later. The man was also treated at the hospital and was discharged yesterday afternoon.
Gardaí have examined the couple’s house for any forensic evidence that might help them identify the raiders. Gardaí have asked anybody with information on the attack to contact the incident room at Granard Garda station on (043) 6687660.