The Government was yesterday urged to take steps to protect older people in the wake of an attack on two elderly nuns in Dublin's inner city. The nuns were threatened by two burglars, one armed with a scissors, after they broke into a community house of the Little Sisters of the Assumption early yesterday.
One of the nuns, who is in her 60s, was tied up in a bedroom of the Cork Street premises. The other was also threatened. The thieves escaped with £30 cash.
The nun who was tied up was treated at St James's Hospital for bruising and shock, but she was not detained.
The attack occurred shortly after 3 a.m. Gardai described one of the men as being 5'6" tall and of slim build. He wore a blue anorak with the hood pulled up and had a blue check scarf pulled across his face. He wore gloves and had a Dublin accent.
Gardai at Kevin Street station believe they may have used a carjack to force their way into the house and may have been seen carrying it before the raid.
Dublin South Central TD Dr Mary Upton called on the Government to introduce a series of measures to increase the safety of older people. She wants further investment in the community support scheme for the elderly to allow more people to qualify for an alarm, improved street lighting and a greater emphasis on community policing.