Irish Daily Mirror

DAD STABBED TO DEATH IN FRONT OF KIDS

»»Gang attacks husband and wife with a machete »»Second man dies in separate ‘assault’

- BY OLIVIA KELLEHER and TREVOR QUINN

TWO children witnessed a savage machete attack which led to their dad’s death.

A gang of four burst into a house in Ballincoll­ig, Co Cork, at 3am yesterday, slashing and beating Polish couple Mikolaj Wilk, 35, and his wife Elzbieta.

Councillor Daithi O Donnabhain said: “I can’t imagine what they [kids] are going through at this time.”

Meanwhile, a man, 45, lost his battle for life after sustaining serious injuries in a suspected assault in Bray, Co Wicklow, in the early hours of Saturday.

GARDAI are hunting a brutal gang who stabbed a man to death and seriously injured his wife in a savage attack at their home.

Gardener Mikolaj Wilk and his wife Elzbieta were in bed when they were attacked with machetes and beaten at the secluded bungalow in Ballincoll­ig, Co Cork, at 3am yesterday.

Their petrified children, both under six, are understood to have witnessed the horrific assault on their parents.

Gardai, who arrived within five minutes of a 999 call, desperatel­y tried to save him before paramedics arrived.

Mr Wilk, 35, known as Nik, was dead on arrival at Cork University Hospital at 5.30am.

Elzbieta, who is also in her 30s, is also being treated for serious but not life-threatenin­g injuries at the same hospital.

It is understood the couple were renting the house.

A second woman living at the house escaped through a window.

Neither she, nor the couple’s two children, were injured in the terrifying attack when the four-man gang launched the deadly assault.

They were said to be deeply shocked by the trauma.

POSTMORTEM

A postmortem on Mr Wilk is due to be carried out at 9am today at CUH.

The gang fled in a BMW 3-series which was found on fire 6km away at Inniskenny at 4.20am.

That scene was also preserved for a technical examinatio­n.

A Mercedes and a Kia 4x4 were also removed from the bungalow to be forensical­ly examined by gardai.

Fianna Fail councillor Daithi O Donnabhain said the area was in shock over Mr Wilk’s death.

He added: “The area is a quiet area on the edge of Ballincoll­ig town. It is a very shocking event to happen.

“First of all the family were in the house. No doubt things were overheard and witnessed by young children.

“My thoughts would have to go to the family first and foremost.

“I can’t imagine what they are going through at this time.”

“That is in the upper end of seriousnes­s as a criminal offence.

“There is a large garda presence here. I hope they are finding a definite line of enquiry.

“I was told the people who were living in the house were not on the Garda radar.”

Cllr O Donnabhain said the incident would make local householde­rs fearful for their safety.

He added: “There is no history of serious or violent crime in the town. This is very much unheard of in terms of any type of incident of this nature.

“It is a good place to live. I think this echoes reports that would have been in the media in terms of rural crime.

“People will have a fear of living on their own or in rural locations as to who is around at night.”

Gardai are trying to determine a motive for the attack. Mr Wilk had lived in Ireland for a number of years and ran a local gardening business.

Fr Piotr Galus, the Polish chaplain in Cork, said the murder was a “savage” crime.

He added: “I didn’t know the man personally but I can say that we will involve those people in our prayers. We will pray for the family. We will offer any support we can to the family. For the father of a family to be murdered in his home. This is a crime with no nationalit­ies. Anyone could be a victim of this.”

Supt Colm O’sullivan said it was tragic to see a man leave a wife, family and friends behind in such circumstan­ces.

He added: “Our thoughts are with

his family and friends at this time. We are appealing for any informatio­n the public may have.

“People would have been returning from a night out or going to or from work.

“If you noticed anything in the Maglin, Ballincoll­ig, Ballinora or Waterfall areas please contact An Garda Siochana. We are appealing to taxi drivers who may have been dropping or collecting people in those areas to contact us.

“We are appealing to any person who may had a dashcam in their car and travels in these areas to contact us.”

Supt O’sullivan said it was a busy road and junction and that someone must have witnessed unusual activity. He added: “They must have witnessed something.

“It may appear to someone as quite insignific­ant but could be significan­t.

“It is early in the investigat­ion. We are appealing to the public. We believe there might be up to four people involved.”

Detectives said there is no known motive. Witnesses are asked to contact them at Gurranabra­her on 021 4946200, the Garda Confidenti­al Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

They are also asking members of the public who may have seen the black BMW leave the area at high speed overnight to contact them.

I can’t imagine what the family are going through

CLLR DAITHI O

DONNABHAIN YESTERDAY

 ??  ?? VICTIMS Elzbieta and Mikolaj Wilk
VICTIMS Elzbieta and Mikolaj Wilk
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? SEALED OFF Gardai near couple’s house yesterday
SEALED OFF Gardai near couple’s house yesterday
 ??  ?? TARGETED Elzbieta and Mikolaj Wilk
TARGETED Elzbieta and Mikolaj Wilk
 ??  ?? APPEAL Supt Colm O’sullivan
APPEAL Supt Colm O’sullivan
 ??  ?? CRIME SCENE Gardai at Mr Wilk’s home in Ballincoll­ig yesterday INQUIRY Royal Hotel in Bray
CRIME SCENE Gardai at Mr Wilk’s home in Ballincoll­ig yesterday INQUIRY Royal Hotel in Bray

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