Gardaí have appealed to residents and businesses in Shantalla and Newcastle to check their CCTV systems for footage of an attacker who broke into the home of an elderly woman and attacked her in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The 80-year-old woman was assaulted during an aggravated burglary at her home in Shantalla Road shortly after the New Year was rung in. The woman was this week recovering in hospital after her ordeal, which lasted for over an hour.
A lone man entered the woman’s apartment on Shantalla Road at around 12.30am on Friday January 1, and fled the scene on foot some time later. The woman managed to raise the alarm and was brought to UHG for treatment following the attack. Her injuries are understood not to be life-threatening but gardaí have said the attack was a traumatic experience for her.
“The attack on the fragile 80-year-old lady was particularly horrific which lasted for over an hour,” Supt Tom Curley of Galway Garda station said this week. “It has left this lady traumatised and we are appealing for witnesses to come forward to help us with this investigation.”
The culprit has been described as a white man in his early twenties. He is approximately six feet tall, clean shaven, and has short dark hair which is shorter at the sides and slightly curly on top. He wore dark trousers or jeans, a dark top, and black leather shoes and had a nondescript accent.
The scene of the attack was technically examined in the hours following the attack and the investigating Garda team carried out extensive house to house inquiries in the area this week.
Gardaí yesterday renewed their appeal for information on the burglary, and are appealing to people who were in the area from Dominick Street to Maunsells Road to Lower Newcastle on New Year’s Eve to report any suspicious activity seen or heard in the area. Gardaí have also asked people to contact gardaí if they suspect they know who carried out the attack.
“Someone might know someone who fits the description who has been acting strangely since the New Year,” Supt Curley said.
Residents and business owners in the area who have CCTV systems have also been asked to check their CCTV for signs of the culprit in the area on New Year’s Eve or the early hours of New Year’s Day.
“Anyone with CCTV in Dominick Street, Henry Street, Cooke’s Corner, St Mary’s Road, Shantalla Road, Maunsells Road, or Newcastle Road might have footage that could be of benefit to us,” the superintendent said.
People with information are asked to contact Galway Garda station at (091 ) 538000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
In a separate incident, gardaí are appealing for information following an aggravated burglary in the city centre on New Year’s Day. Two youths entered a house in St Bridget’s Place at 9am armed with a hurley and a knife. They threatened the occupants and stole a number of items during the raid.
Shortly afterwards gardaí apprehended two youths in a taxi nearby. Gardaí are anxious to speak to the driver of this taxi and are appealing him to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda station at (091 ) 538000.
