A woman and her two children were targeted by a group of men while out walking in Co Clare in recent days.
The trio were walking on Drumcliffe Road in Ennis at around 1.10pm on Sunday afternoon when they were targeted by three men.
One man grabbed the woman and a second tried to take her handbag. One of the men also smashed her children's phones on the ground.
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While this incident was ongoing, a third member of the group stood talking on his own phone.
The daylight incident was "very traumatic" for the mother and her two children, gardai said, and the force is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed it to come forward.
Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks, told Clare FM on Tuesday: "At 1.10pm on Sunday afternoon, a lady was walking on Drumcliffe Road in Ennis with her two children
"She was approached from behind by three males, one grabbed her from behind and another tried to take her handbag and broke the strap in the process.
"The children both had mobile phones in their hands and one of the males took these and smashed them off the ground.
"While this was going on, the third male was talking on his own mobile phone.
"This was very traumatic for the mother and her two children, so if anybody witnessed this incident or anyone who may have dashcam footage, we're asking them to contact Ennis garda station."
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