Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 16201Aggravated burglary · Co. Limerick · 9 Aug 2024

Masked men with slash hooks raid Patrickswell home; linked Charleville attack injures girl

Masked men with slash hooks broke into a house in Patrickswell, Co Limerick, in an early-morning aggravated burglary on Friday 9 August 2024 and assaulted two occupants. On Monday 19 August 2024 at about 11:30pm, a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in a suspected assault at her home in the New Line area of Charleville, which is believed to be linked to the Patrickswell raid. The girl was taken to Cork University Hospital and then to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin for surgery and is reportedly doing well. As of the latest report on 29 August 2024, no arrests or charges have been made and gardaí are appealing for witnesses.

  1. Reported22 Aug
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Masked men broke into a house in Patrickswell in an early-morning aggravated burglary and assaulted two occupants.
  • A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in a suspected assault at her home in Charleville.
When
  • The Patrickswell aggravated burglary happened on Friday 9 August 2024 in the early morning.
  • The Charleville incident happened on Monday 19 August 2024 at about 11:30pm.
Where
The Charleville incident took place at a home in the New Line area at Newline; one report calls Charleville a Limerick-border town, while the other says it is in Co Cork.
Other details
  • The girl is thought to have sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Cork University Hospital, then Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, for surgery.
  • A male in his 20s was treated at University Hospital Limerick for non-life-threatening injuries, and one occupant received a severe laceration to a hand.
  • The perpetrators damaged the house and a car outside in Charleville.
  • The girl is reported to be doing well after surgery, and her family is very hopeful she will make a full recovery.
Weapon
The perpetrators were suspected to be masked men armed with slash hooks.
Cause
  • The Charleville attack is believed to be connected to the Patrickswell raid and to an ongoing feud between families in Limerick and Cork.
  • The reason for the feud between the Limerick and Cork families is not known.
Investigation
  • Gardaí at Roxboro Road are leading the Patrickswell investigation, and Superintendent Gary McPolin is heading the Charleville investigation.
  • Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Mallow Garda Station.
Charges
No arrests have been made and no one has been charged, and investigations are ongoing.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in an assault on her home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe child is thought to have sustained serious head injuries. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMasked men broke into a house in Patrickswell in an early-morning aggravated burglary. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSeveral people entered a Patrickswell residence and assaulted two occupants. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at a home in the New Line area of Charleville. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe Charleville incident happened at a property at Newline. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Monday 19 August 2024 at about 11:30pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe Patrickswell aggravated burglary happened on Friday morning, August 9. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe child was suspected to have been injured as part of an ongoing feud between families in Limerick and Cork. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe Charleville incident is believed to be connected to the Patrickswell raid. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe reason for the feud between the Limerick and Cork families is not known. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe assault was suspected to have been carried out by masked men with slash hooks. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe perpetrators were understood to be armed with slash hooks. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Mallow Garda Station. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí at Roxboro Road are leading the investigation into the Patrickswell aggravated burglary. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationSuperintendent Gary McPolin is heading the garda investigation into the Charleville attack. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe perpetrators damaged the house and a car outside. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe girl was taken to Cork University Hospital and then to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherSuperintendent Gary McPolin said the girl's family were very hopeful she would make a full recovery. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherOne occupant, a male in his 20s, was treated at University Hospital Limerick for non-life-threatening injuries. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe victim received a severe laceration to a hand. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherA 12-year-old girl was taken to Cork University Hospital with serious head injuries, it is believed. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Aug2024
    Reportedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Machete attack on Limerick home linked to ‘obscene’ Charleville incident

    Reports a linked attack in Charleville, Co Cork, on 19 August 2024 that injured a 12-year-old girl, and says the Patrickswell raid is believed to be connected to it. Adds the weapons, the injured occupant's hand laceration, and comments from the parish priest and Superintendent Gary McPolin.

    victim, 20s, malevictim, 12, female
  2. 22 Aug2024
    Reportedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Young girl 'doing well' after surgery following 'heinous' assault in Charleville

    Adds the victim's age and condition, the hospital transfers, the suspected feud between Limerick and Cork families, the damage to the house and a car, and the Mallow Garda Station appeal. Matches the linked Charleville attack already recorded under the Patrickswell aggravated burglary case.

    victim, 12, femalesuspect, male