A local councillor has called for extra gardaí to be stationed in the south Wicklow village of Carnew after a vicious assault on a retired small farmer living alone.
Mr Patsy Kehoe (67), from Tombreane on the Carnew-Shillelagh road, feared for his life when a gang stamped on his head.
On responding to a light "tap" on the front door of his isolated home, Mr Kehoe received a punch in the face from one of the three men, who ransacked his house looking for money.
Mr Keogh, who sustained injuries to one eye and a fractured jaw, saved himself from an even worse beating by barricading himself in the bedroom of his home.
He escaped through a small window and hid in the fields until the gang sped off in their car.
Cllr Pat Doran (FF) said it was unacceptable that Carnew was reduced to one garda, whereas some years ago three gardaí were stationed in the village.
Cllr Doran said Mr Kehoe went through an awful ordeal.
"Only he escaped through the window, Lord knows what might have happened. His quick thinking saved him. He was very shocked and shaken by it. He is very upset that he has been pushed out of his own home as a result of this. Patsy is an unbelievable man to survive what he went through."
He added: "It is terrible to think that Patsy Keogh could have lost his life for €100 taken by the vicious gang."
Mr Keogh is one of three pensioners living alone who were attacked and robbed in their homes by the same gang on the same night. A 75-year-old woman from Corragh, Bunclody, Co Wexford, had €300 worth of valuables stolen; a retired Arklow gardener was also robbed.