Gardaí are searching for three men who carried out a “cowardly and reprehensible” aggravated burglary at the home of an elderly couple in Co Westmeath at the weekend.
Tony (75) and Kathleen(82) Burke were threatened with a knife by three raiders who entered their home at Emper, Ballinacarrigy on Saturday at 1.15am.
Demanded cash
Mrs Burke was thrown to the ground by the men who smashed a glass pane of her front door. The men then held a large knife up to Mr Burke's chest and demanded cash.
“I knew well he was looking for money,” said Mr Burke, who admitted he was in fear as “they were shouting” and had ripped the phone off the wall.
The raiders ransacked the house before making off with a wallet and €600 in cash and Mr Burke’s legally held shotgun and cartridges.
Mrs Burke received a cut to her leg with a knife as she was thrown to the ground a second time while attempting to wrestle the double-barrelled shotgun from one of the assailants.
After they left, Mr Burke, who is deaf and uses a zimmerframe, said: “I had a job lifting Kathleen off the floor.”
The couple went outside and flagged down a passing motorist who alerted gardaí.
The assailants were described as young males. Two of them were masked during the 20-minute attack. They escaped in a car.
Both Mr and Mrs Burke were left badly shaken by their ordeal and were surrounded by friends and family at their home yesterday.
'Cowardly'
Labour TD Willie Penrose, who is related to the couple, described the incident as a "cowardly and reprehensible attack upon decent law abiding citizens who are quiet and unassuming."
Mr Penrose said this type of crime “seems to be rampant because there was a number of burglaries across the area”. He cited several other instances in the locality in recent weeks.
He said the couple had “suffered their trauma and the whole community feels a deep sense of shock and trauma themselves”.
Describing the attack as a “sad indictment of our society,” Mr Penrose urged people to be vigilant.
Nobody has yet been arrested in connection with the crime and gardaí in Mullingar have issued an appeal following the burglary.
Anyone with information can contact Mullingar Garda station on 044-9384000.