Aggravated Burglary at Kiltullagh, Athenry, Galway on the 20/2/14

Gardaí at Millstreet Garda Station are investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred at a family run business in Kiltullagh, near Athenry, Co. Galway on Thursday, the 20th February 2014.

The business is owned by Frank & Mary Duane and includes a shop and service station next to their home. Shortly after 9pm they closed the shop and retired for the evening. Frank was in the sitting room watching television and Mary was in the kitchen knitting. While they relaxed, three men drove into the forecourt in a dark coloured estate car and pulled up in front of their house. They were masked and armed. They entered through the front door, confronted Frank, threatened him and assaulted him. One of the raiders grabbed Mary from the kitchen and threatened her. They demanded money and cigarettes. They forced Mary to open the safe in the office.

During this ordeal, their son who lives nearby called in to visit and as he did he was grabbed and violently assaulted by the raiders. They struck him over the head with a hammer and caused serious injury. The raiders locked the family in an office and fled with a large sum of money. The drove off in the direction of Raford and were last seen travelling through the village of New Inn.

Appeal:

• Gardaí are appealing to anyone who was in the area on Thursday the 20th of February and may have seen a dark coloured estate, possibly an Audi, acting suspiciously to come forward.

• The raiders removed the registration plates from the shop owners car, the registration number is 132-G-410.

• The car was last seen travelling through the village of New Inn, Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen this car at this location or another to contact them.

Gardaí at Millstreet Garda Station are investigating                       Telephone 0909 688652