Gardai in Sligo are investigating the armed raid of a rural pub where one of the elderly owners was beaten by a gang of masked men.
 
A technical examination of the scene at Quigley’s in Collooney is being carried out this morning.

The property comprises of a pub, petrol pumps and grocery store and is owned by two brothers who are aged in their seventies.

One of the brothers was alone in the premises, which is usually closed on Sunday, when three masked men entered via the back of the property at around 6:20pm yesterday evening.

The gang were armed with a variety of weapons and beat the man a number of times with a bat, before ransacking the premises and making off with an undisclosed sum of cash.

The elderly man was not seriously injured but is said to be extremely shocked and shaken by the ordeal.

Sligo Gardai have launched an investigation.