Three members of a gang who broke into the home of a Galway businessman on Sunday night and tied up his family remain in custody this morning. They can be held until tomorrow.
A country-wide search for another two members of the gang, believed to be from Dublin, is still underway.
The masked gang broke into the home of Julian Flynn and his wife Emma at Lackagh-Turloughmore, which is situated between Galway city and Tuam before 9pm on Sunday night.
Mr and Mrs Flynn and three of their four children were tied up with cable cord. Their youngest child is a six month old baby.
A member of the family managed to raise the alarm just after the raiders struck and two local gardai arrived at the house within minutes and confronted the gang.
A Garda spokesman said a struggle broke out between the uniformed officers and the raiders as they attempted to escape with a small sum of cash. A garda was hit with a hatchet but it is understood he was not seriously wounded.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern today congratulated the gardaí for their role in freeing the family.
Speaking today Mr Ahern said the actions of the Gardai on Sunday night "highlighted how well served as a community we are by An Garda Síochána."
“The two unarmed members of the force responded to a callout to the home of the businessman, unsure precisely the nature of the threat facing them," he said.
"The Gardaí, thanks to their professionalism but above all bravery, tackled the intruders despite being both outnumbered and facing armed individuals who posed a serious threat to their safety and that of the occupants of the house."
"On behalf of the Government, but indeed the public at large, I want to thank both Gardaí – and their colleagues who also responded to the callout – for their dedication and devotion to duty."