Gardaí in Roscommon have appealed for witnesses in relation to an attack on a 75-year-old man in which a "substantial" amount of money was taken from his home.
Thomas Murray told gardaí that the break-in occurred some time before 10pm on Monday night at his home in Cloonlyon, about three miles from Ballygar, on the border between Galway and Roscommon.
He was assaulted and tied up by two men and a woman, who then took money from the premises.
He managed to free himself and raised the alarm at a neighbour's house late on Monday night.
He was taken to hospital in Roscommon for treatment of a head wound and spoke to gardaí about his experiences yesterday afternoon.
Mr Murray is the father of Thomas Murray who is serving a sentence in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, for the murder of Ballygar schoolteacher Nancy Nolan in February 2000.
Murray jnr was previously convicted in relation to the death of an elderly man, William Mannion, at his home in Ballygar village in 1981.
He was also questioned by gardaí in relation to the circumstances surrounding the violent death of Galway taxi driver Eileen Costello O'Shaughnessy whose body was found in north Galway on December 1st, 1997.
However, gardaí do not believe that the assault on Mr Murray snr was linked in any way to these cases, while stating that they cannot rule anything out at this time.
Supt Willie Gallagher of Roscommon said two males and a female had been involved in the break-in.
Insp Paul Glynn said the investigation was at a very early stage and that any information should be given to Roscommon gardaí at 0906-638300 or the confidential telephone line at 1800-666111.
