Andrew Carey
A 51-year-old man who was lured to a house in Limerick city had his feet nailed to a kitchen floor by a gang of men dressed in boiler suits during a vicious attack over debts.
The victim was lured to a house and invited there on the pretext of selling furniture, but was set upon and strapped to a chair before his life was threatened during a beating.
Up to 25 gardai are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Details of the gruesome attack were heard at a special sitting of Limerick District Court late on Thursday night as gardai were seeking a legal extension to the period of detention to continue questioning two of the three Limerick men arrested on Wednesday morning.
Giving evidence in court, Det Superintendent Jim Ryan told Judge Aeneas McCarthy that on September 14 las, the county Limerick victim was lured to a city housing estate.
The victim, who is in the furniture trade, arrived to the house, entered the open gate and was invited into the kitchen before a number of persons, dressed in white boiler suits, set upon him.
The victim, who received a blow to the head, was threatened, and strapped to a chair before one of his attackers used what is believed to have been a nail gun and nailed the victims feet to the kitchen floor.
Det Supt Ryan said that the victim, with the help of a friend managed to make good his escape and attend the University Hospital Limerick where he was treated for his injuries.
The court heard that a large number of garda personnel are investigating the case as well as dedicated scientists from the State Forensic Science Lab.
Detective garda Dave Baynham and Det garda Niamh Brosnan gave evidence of arresting the two men before the court.
In his evidence Det Supt Ryan said the two men aged 50 and 52 are believed to be in possession of information about the people responsible for the assault and false imprisonment of the injured party.
He said that both men have also given various accounts of their whereabouts on the day of the incident.
Forensics samples have been taken from the scene and are currently being analysed at the Forensic laboratory.
The court heard that DNA profiling will also be “very relevant” to the inquiry.
After being told the investigation was being carried out diligently and expeditiously, Judge Aeneas McCarthy granted Gardai a further 24 hours to question the two men.
