Garda searches linked to Lisnaskea machete attack on teen girl

Gardaí are investigating a number of threats to kill and cause serious harm to persons made on social media over the past few days, in particular whether the videos may be connected to a recent serious incident in Co Fermanagh.

That incident, which is under investigation by the PSNI, is understood to be connected to the an attack on a house in Lisnaskea, during which a 13-year-old girl was slashed with what is believed to have been a machete-type weapon.

Gardai issued a statement this afternoon explaining that, earlier this morning, Gardaí in Athlone conducted a number of planned searches at locations in and around the Westmeath town.

The searches were focused on finding “weapons” said to have been displayed in “videos and media devices used” during in the commission of these alleged threats to kill and cause serious harm. “A number of electronic devices and weapons were seized during the searches.”

The searches involved Garda resources from Athlone and the Regional Support Unit.

During the course of the searches, three males from the Athlone area were arrested - one male is in his late 40s and the other two males are in their 20s.

“These males are currently being detained at Mullingar and Athlone Garda Station and are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

“Gardaí in Athlone are liaising with the PSNI in relation to the persons arrested and the social media videos as may be connected to a recent serious incident in Co. Fermanagh, which is under investigation by the PSNI,” gardai have confirmed.

It's understood that the young girl injured in the Fermanagh house attack received 300 stitches to her wound and suffered a collapsed lung. She was subsequently received emergency treatment at Enniskillen’s South West Acute Hospital where her condition was later downgraded from one of initially being “critical” to that of stable.

She was attacked just after 9pm last Saturday night, November 16, when masked intruders entered a house at the Trasna Way estate in Lisnaskea.

It’s understood the 13-year-old was caring for an 11-month-old infant child at the time. A video circulated on social media after showed the teenager holding a towel to her chest, and includes graphic images of her injuries, which include a deep wound on her back.

A 41-year-old woman, also present in the house, suffered injuries to her leg. She was later discharged from hospital.
The baby boy, who is understood to be the teenage girl’s nephew, was unharmed.

The attack has been widely condemned, and PSNI Detective Sergeant Keith Monaghan stated afterwards: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal for those involved and we are determined to find the men responsible. We have several lines of enquiry, which we are progressing at this time but I would ask anyone with information or who noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact detectives in Enniskillen and pass that information on.”