Banks were urged yesterday to think twice before closing branches in rural areas following Monday's attack on two brothers in their 80s in their home in Co Meath, which led to the death of one and the hospitalisation of the other.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, said he was concerned at the closure of bank sub-offices in rural areas. He said the closures had implications for the safety of elderly people who might feel they had to keep their money at home.
"It's going against the whole idea of decentralisation which the Government is planning," he said.
Mr Ahern said that while the closure of rural bank branches was "not a good way of operating", he did not believe banks could be forced to reverse their decisions.
He added that elderly people who kept money under the mattress in case their pensions or social welfare entitlements were cut need have no fears from next October, as single people would then be able to have £10,000 in a bank account and married couples could have double this amount in a financial institution without it having any bearing on the benefits they could claim.
Mr Trevor McEvoy of AIB Bank said last night it would be incorrect to link the attack on the Logan brothers in Castlejordan with the closure of rural bank branches. "Attacks of that nature occur in rural and urban areas," he said.
Mr Ahern was also asked yesterday to intervene with Ulster Bank to reverse its decision to close its branch in Castlebellingham in Co Louth. The sub-office closed at the end of May.
Mr Ahern said elderly people who wished to have alarms installed in their homes could apply through local community groups to his Department for grants which would cover 50 to 90 per cent of the cost. The closing date for applications was May 26th but the Minister said it was a flexible scheme and he would continue to accept applications beyond this deadline.