Seven Dublin men who admitted carrying out an aggravated burglary on a family home in Co Tipperary two years ago have received a range of sentences totalling 105 years.

The men broke into the home of Mark and Emma Corcoran at Burnchurch, near Killenaul, in November 2013.

The couple's three young daughters, who were aged eight, six and two, were also in the house at the time.

Judge Tom Teehan handed down the sentences at Clonmel District Court.

He said the level of gratuitous violence used on Mr and Mrs Corcoran was terrifying and he also had to be a voice for the children.

Speaking directly to the couple, he said he could not believe the pain and suffering they had had to endure and wished them well for the future.

Two of the men - Dean Byrne, 22, of Cabra Park and Patrick Gately, 27, of Primrose Grove in Darndale were both sentenced to 20 years in prison, both with four suspended.

John Joyce, 20, of Lentisk Lawn, Donaghmede was sentenced to 15 years with four suspended and Patrick Joyce, 22, of Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods was sentenced to 14 years with four suspended.

Thomas Flynn, 20, of Moatview Avenue, Coolock was jailed for 12 years with three suspended, while Michael McDonagh, 23, of Tara Lawns, Belcamp Lane, Coolock and Donal O’Hara from Glin Park in Coolock were both sentenced to 12 years, both with seven suspended.

The seven men are part of a family-based criminal gang from Coolock in north Dublin.

Judge Teehan said an awful lot of violence was used and the violation of all the rights associated with the family and family home had been committed by the gang.

He said the crime fell into the higher range of the offences committed, and while the maximum possible sentence in a case of aggravated burglary is life in prison, Judge Teehan said he did not feel that was correct in this case although he had considered it.

The judge said it was an "evil, well planned crime" that caused "catastrophic changes" to the lives of the Co Tipperary family.

He said no human being, of any age, should ever have to witness such a violent scene, and most especially in their own home.

The court previously heard that all seven men had travelled originally in two separate cars to the Corcoran's house.

Mr Corcoran was involved in selling gym equipment around the country.

During the burglary Mrs Corcoran managed to dial 999 and left her mobile phone turned on for around seven minutes.

Gardaí in Thurles could hear what was happening during the raid.

Gardaí are still investigating where the gang got misinformation about the Corcoran family that led the criminals to target them for large sums of money they did not have,

Detective Sergeant James White had told the court that he had heard the subsequent recording a number of times and one of the most audible things on it is the terrified, piercing screams of the children.

The gang had threatened to put a screwdriver up Mr Corcoran's nose and told him they would cut off his feet. Mrs Corcoran said she told the raiders that her children were in the house and was told "we'll kill your f***ing kids".

Solicitor Kieran Cleary, who represented the Corcoran family, has said that the attack was horrific and the Corcoran children saw all of the events.

Speaking to RTÉ's Six One News, he said Mr Corcoran nearly lost his eyes and has had four major operations since.

Mr Cleary said that, fortunately, the 999 call saved all of their lives, but he never saw children so traumatised by an event like this.

He praised the gardaí, who he said supported them "all of the way" and described the judge in the case as "quite magnificent".

Reacting to the sentencing, the Minister for Justice said she wanted to sympathise with the family for their dreadful ordeal and to commend gardaí for their work on the case.

Frances Fitzgerald said that as Minister for Justice she could not comment on an individual case or sentence.

In general she said she believed in tougher sentencing, which is why she is introducing new legislation today to make it more difficult for people who carry out repeat burglaries to get bail.

Responding to criticism from the Opposition that the closure of Garda stations had led to a rise in burglaries, she said the previous government had stopped all investment in An Garda Síochána from 2009.

The minister said the Government had recommenced investment and there would be 550 garda recruits this year.

She said that gardaí were needed out in the community and not behind desks and they needed vehicles and resources.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath said that "rural people are afraid in their beds".

He said a more mobile police force was needed to tackle "these marauding gangs of thugs".

There was a big garda presence of armed gardaí in and around the Clonmel courthouse for today's the sentencing of the seven men, none of whom are older than 24.