Gardai have warned people who are buying or selling goods, or engaging in transactions with strangers, to meet them somewhere safe where others are nearby, and not to meet in secluded car parks or open spaces. The warning follows news that a man and his girlfriend were set upon and attacked by a gang of men who had duped them to a meeting place in north county Dublin under the pretence of apparently selling a car.

The Irish Independent reports an investigation is ongoing but no arrests have yet been made.The incident happened in Rush at around 9pm last night when the couple went to meet a person with the intention of buying something from them, most likely a car, gardai believe. But when they reached the planned meeting place on Southshore Road a gang of three men attacked them and took their cash and car keys. The man suffered injuries when he was attacked with what is thought to be a hammer, while his partner was said to be traumatised and had to hand over the keys of her car. The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries. Gardai in Lusk are investigating the incident. They say one of the men was of stocky build and around 5ft 10ins tall and spoke with a Dublin accent. A second man was around 5ft 8ins and of slim build. A third man was acting as a driver.