A pensioner was yesterday recovering from the trauma of being locked up in his home for over nine hours by intruders.
The ordeal for Pat O’Toole, a widower in his late 70s, started around 10pm on Tuesday night when three men entered his home at Mellow’s Avenue, Arklow, Co Wicklow, demanding cash. Entry was gained through a window at the rear of the house and the intruders had an altercation with Mr O’Toole before locking him in one room. It understood they made off with some cash and a cheque book.
Mr O’Toole was left badly shaken by the incident. Gardaí forced their way into the house at about 7.30am yesterday after the alarm was raised and freed him. A forensic examination of the scene was carried out.