GARDAÍ are hunting two armed men who put a noose around a victim's neck during a violent burglary in rural Ireland.
The armed men broke in and ransacked the man's home in Clonaycavan, near Ballivor Co Meath last Wednesday, January 17.
The victim, a man in his 40s, was in the house on his own when he went outside for firewood.
When he went back into his home, he was confronted with two men both wearing balaclavas and armed with a knife and a handgun.
Gardaí have said it was a 'very violent' incident as the two men then put a noose around their victim's neck and dragged him from room to room, ransacking the property looking for cash.
While there was no money on the property, the two men stole the victim's wallet which had a small amount of money.
The violent ordeal went on for almost an hour until the victim's phone rang distracting the culprits.
The victim then made his way out of the house and ran across fields to a neighbour and raised the alarm.
One of the suspects is described as 5'11, stocky build with an English accent wearing a dark coat and black trousers while the other is 5'7, slim with a Dublin accent and dark coat.
Speaking to local radio station LMFM, Sergeant Ronan Farrelly from An Garda Síochána said: "The victim didn't see what transport these culprits had but it is a rural area, and we assume they did have some transport.
"We're appealing to anyone who was in the Clonaycavan Ballivor area of Co Meath last Wednesday evening between 7pm and 8pm who saw anything suspicious or a vehicle driving erratically in the area to contact the detective branch at Trim Garda Station."