A 12-year-old girl has been hospitalised with a serious head injury following an attack on a house in north Cork on Monday.
Gardaí believe the incident is linked to an ongoing feud between two extended families in Cork and Limerick.
The girl was injured during the incident in which at least five masked and armed men smashed up a car and attacked a house on the New Line in Charleville at 11.30pm on Monday.
It is understood the girl was standing just inside the front door of the house when she was struck on the head by one of the assailants as he broke a glass panel in the door with a slash hook.
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The girl was treated at the scene for a severe laceration by paramedics before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
When medics carried out a series of scans on the girl at Cork University Hospital, they found the she had suffered a skull injury and she was transferred to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street.
It is understood the girl underwent emergency surgery and according to a statement from the Garda Press Office on Tuesday afternoon, she remains in a serious but stable condition at Temple Street.
The girl and her mother were alone in the house at the time. It’s understood three male members of the family had left the building before it was attacked.
Gardaí believe the attack was in retaliation for an incident in Patrickswell in Co Limerick two weeks ago when an armed and masked gang smashed up a car and broke windows in a house.
Gardaí have cordoned off the scene of the incident in Charleville to allow for a forensic examination of the property. The damaged car was removed for examination.
Investigating officers are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or seen any suspicious activity in the New Line area Charleville between 10.30pm and midnight to contact them.
They are particularly anxious to speak to anyone with camera footage from the area at the time and they can be contacted at Mallow Garda station on 022 31450.
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