A young girl of 12 has been taken to hospital suffering from a severe injury to her head, the result of an assault on a residence in northern Cork earlier this week. The police have indicated that they think the event is part of an unending conflict between two widespread families from Cork and Limerick. The child suffered the traumatic injury to the head when a group of five masked and armed adults destroyed a vehicle and targeted a residence on New Line in Charleville, around 11:30pm on Monday night.
It’s indicated that the young girl was near the entrance of the house and got hit on the head by a panel of glass shattered by one of the attackers with a cutting tool. The impact apparently led to a deep cut to the child’s head, prompting immediate medical attention on scene, following which she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
However, upon conducting a plethora of scans at the University Hospital in Cork, the child was found to have a fracture to the skull and was quickly moved to the Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street. The girl underwent urgent surgery and according to the Garda Press Office’s statement on Tuesday afternoon, she continues to remain in a grave yet stable state in Temple street.
It is known that the girl and her mother were alone at home when the attack occurred. What is also understood, is that three male family members had exited the property before it was assaulted by the gang carrying cutting tools and iron bars.
The police think the attack was in response to an event occurring in Patrickswell in County Limerick a fortnight ago, when a group of masked men with weapons ruined a vehicle and shattered the windows of a home in the village. The police reacted to the assault in Charleville, put a cordon around the scene and began a forensic inquiry of the property and the ruined car.
The authorities are urgently calling for witnesses who might have observed the episode, or any unusual behaviour around the New Line section in Charleville from half past ten to midnight. Anyone who may have any video evidence, including dashcam recordings, around that time is being particularly requested to come forward. The Mallow station can be reached at 022 31450 for those who wish to provide any information.