The men arrested on suspicion of robbery are members of a gang based in Coolock, north Dublin, which has been a key target of the Garda’s Operation Fiacla combating burglary gangs for the past 18 months.
Yesterday’s raid, involving an armed group in stolen vehicles travelling deep into the country from Dublin to rob a house, is typical of the type of crime Operation Fiacla is designed to combat.
Some of those under arrest are on bail for serious offences including assaulting a garda and possession of a firearm.
Gardaí believe there was a link with a criminal gang in Limerick who had purchased bedding from the business owned by the family attacked yesterday.
The Limerick criminals were calling to farmers and people living in secluded areas offering goods for sale but in reality were checking for signs of affluence and to assess security measures such as alarms systems.
Gardaí are trying to establish if they might have got their information wrong this time and gave a wrong indication to the men under arrest that the Corcoran family would be likely to have cash in their home.
Those held last night are aged between 21 and 26 years. Some have convictions for burglary and possession of drugs for personal use. Their offences have been mainly committed in Dublin, but they have also been arrested in Limerick, Galway, Wexford and Longford.
The car the five were arrested in yesterday morning was stolen in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.
According to Garda sources the men have a large number of convictions for alcohol-
related violence and public disorder, as well as motoring offences. They are suspected of involvement in armed raids.
