Gardaí following number of lines of inquiry into attack

Gardaí are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry into an assault and robbery of a Polish family at their home in North Galway last week.

Although very little by way of cash or goods was taken in the raid, Gardai are concerned that the tenant in the house was assaulted by three assailants.

The man only suffered minor injuries in the incident after he was accosted by three men – also of Polish origin – as he returned to his rented house at Parkwest, Clonberne on the Tuesday evening of January 5.

At around 7.30 that evening, as the man returned to his house along with his partner and two young children, he was confronted by the gang of three men.

The two young children and woman are not understood to have been assaulted in the incident but the man was roughed up by the gang and was verbally abused.

Weapons of some description – but not firearms – were being carried by the gang members who undertook a quick search of the house before leaving after a few minutes.

Detectives are trying to establish what the motivation behind the crime was, given that very little was taken in the course of the incident.

Gardai have appealed for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Clonberne area between 7pm and 8pm on the Tuesday evening of January 5 last to make contact with them at Tuam Garda Station on 093-70840.

Two of the gang were of thin build and about 5’7” to 5’9” tall while the third was of more muscular build and was also taller than the other two.

It is not known whether the victims of the incident were known to the gang who left the scene shortly after the man was roughed up. All three gang members spoke with strong Polish accents.