A County Waterford pensioner remains in a stable condition this week following a horrific robbery at her home in which she was tied to a bed and repeatedly beaten.
Three men in their 20s broke into the 68-year-old’s house, at Drumgelane, Grange, Ardmore, Co Waterford, shortly after 4.30am on Saturday by breaking a window in her bedroom. They tied her to her bed and repeatedly beat her around the head and upper body until she revealed where she kept her money.
Gardai believe they didn’t believe she had handed them her entire savings, as they then dragged her into the garden and tied her to a fence where they beat her again, with their fists and possibly a stick. The terrified woman was left in the garden and managed to free herself a number of hours later, when she contacted the emergency services.
The woman was brought by ambulance to Waterford Regional Hospital, while gardaí cordoned off the scene to allow technical experts to carry out a forensic examination of the house in the hope that they might locate fibres or other material which could help them to identify the attackers.
Inspector Paul Heffernan described the attack as a ‘horrific ordeal’ for the lady and called for the public’s help in catching the gang responsible. The three men had Irish accents. Two of them were wearing red jackets, whilst the third wore a green or yellow jacket. Two of the attackers are described as being tall. One was stocky, while the other was said to have an athletic build. Both had blue eyes and one of them had fair hair. They are understood to have left the house in a car, some time around 5am and gardai are especially anxious to speak to anyone who was in the area at that time.
Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmons described the attack as the lowest form of crime. “To rob somebody in their home is bad, but to carry out that level of violence against them is shocking,” Mr Timmons said.
Muintir Na Tíre president Martin Quinn condemned ‘the callous attack on an elderly lady in the privacy her own home’. “This is a time of year when older people will be feeling vulnerable and communities should take the opportunity to visit the them and offer assurance. All it takes is a few minutes to call in and make sure they are okay,” Mr Quinn said.
Meanwhile local priest Fr Maurice O’Gorman of nearby Clashmore, said the attack had made people fearful in their homes.
An incident room has been set up at Dungarvan Garda Station and anybody with information on the robbery is asked to call 058-48600.