The vulnerability of elderly people living in rural County Galway has once again been highlighted following a violent attack in the Craughwell area last night.
Gardaí in Loughrea are appealing for witnesses after the aggravated burglary which occurred at the home of an elderly couple at around 10pm.Three men entered a house in the Cregg Mul Greaney area and assaulted an 80-year-old man and locked him into a room, while they ransacked the house. The men escaped with a sum of money.
The elderly man was taken to Galway University Hospital where he was treated for his injuries which are not believed to be of a serious nature. An 80-year-old woman, who was also in the house at the time of the robbery, was not injured.
Gardaí say one of the attackers was around 6ft tall and of medium build. He was wearing dark coloured clothes. A second assailant was smaller and is said to be in his early 20s. He was wearing a white or cream coloured jacket.
Local councillor Michael Fahy was shocked and appalled at the incident. The Ardrahan based representative said elderly people in rural areas are extremely frightened for their safety and incidents like this add to their distress. “This is outrageous, it cannot be tolerated. I just hope the Gardai can catch those responsible and they are subjected to the full rigours of the law.”
This was the second violent incident to occur in South Galway this week. A woman was forced from her parked car in the Square in Gort on Monday evening and the car was stolen. A man was arrested in connection with the carjacking at on Monday night in Cratloe. The 25-year-old was taken to Shannon Garda Station where he was later charged in connection with the incident. He appeared before Ennis District Court yesterday morning The local woman, whose car was stolen, was extremely shaken but otherwise uninjured.
