This article is from page 1 of the 2013-01-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
A SPATE of aggravated burglaries targetting elderly people living in the West Clare area is causing huge concern in the community, as gardaí believe the culprits have local knowledge of their victims.
In a latest attack, two elderly brothers were targetted in their home in Lack West Kilmihil during the weekend before Christmas.
At least two intruders, yielding iron bars, broke into the frightened men’s home between 2am and 3.25am on Saturday, December 22.
They terrorised the elderly occupants and forced them to hand over what is considered to be a sizeable amount of money. The thugs then fled in a car.
The only description available to the gardaí of the intruders was “that they were big”.
“A car with a loud exhaust was heard near the scene at the time,” a garda spokesperson said.
This crime was very similar to burglaries committed in Moyasta on December 8 and in Boolyneaska Kilmaley on December 6. Again, older people were targetted and robbed.
In the Moyasta incident, three individuals broke into the farmhouse of two elderly sisters and demanded money.
The trio broke down the door of the rural house in Kildymo, Bansha, near the seaside town of Kilkee, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on December 8 and entered the premises where the women had lived all of their lives.
A frightening ordeal then began for the two ladies in their 80s as the robbers ripped the phone from the wall and demanded money from them.
There was very little money in the house and the thugs eventually got away with a small amount of cash from the old age pensioners’ purses.
The three who had targeted the two vulnerable older women in their own home covered their faces during the robbery. Gardaí believe there may be a connection between at least two of the three burglaries.
They are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them at Kilrush and Ennis Garda Stations.
“A substantial amount of money was taken in the latest crime. We believe the culprits in this case had local knowledge as all houses are off the main roads and in relatively isolated areas.
“These criminals are now flush with money and we are sure they are going to spend it,” said the garda spokesperson.
Meanwhile, a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution in the case of an aggrivated burglary on the occupants of an isolated house between the Kilrush road and Kilmurry McMahon on September 21.
Gardaí arrested three men less than an hour after they were suspected of robbing an elderly woman and her family at knifepoint in their West Clare home. The elderly woman has since passed away.