The Mayor of Castlebar has spoken out against “brazen thugs” who attacked a local businesswoman in broad daylight this week.
Regina Sweeney (36 ) was in a terrible state of shock after being subjected to a second vicious assault at her house and business in the space of two months.
Mayor Brendan Henaghan told the Mayo Advertiser yesterday (Thursday ) that the local community were “disgusted and horrified” by this latest attack. He said there was widespread shock throughout Castlebar and offered the support of the community to Mrs Sweeney and her husband Declan at this time. He said he hopes the gardaí catch the perpetrators as quickly as possible and bring them to justice.
Mrs Sweeney, the owner of a bridal boutique which she operates from her house at Corheen’s, Breaffy outside Castlebar, was assaulted by two balaclava-clad men in broad daylight on Wednesday afternoon, and on Thursday she was too shocked and upset to comment on the ordeal when contacted by the Mayo Advertiser.
Mrs Sweeney bravely appeared on the Late Late Show recently to contribute to a discussion about rural crime.
This latest attack took place on Wednesday afternoon (February 6 ) at approximately 3.20pm at her business and the Gardaí in Castlebar are appealing for witnesses who were in the Corheens area between 12 noon and 4pm on Wednesday to contact them on 094 902 2222.
It was reported on Thursday that two men wearing balaclavas tied Mrs Sweeney up and gagged her before Mrs Sweeney used a panic alarm to alert the gardaí to the intruders in her house.
During Mrs Sweeney’s first attack she sustained bruising on her body and a hairline fracture to her cheekbone.
A quantity of cash was taken, including charity money she had collected.
On that occasion Mrs Sweeney activated the house alarm before one of her attackers pulled her head backwards, hitting it off the wrought iron stairs. Mrs Sweeney fell onto the floor and passed out for a period of time while the men fled.
Following Wednesday’s attack Mrs Sweeney was taken to Mayo General Hospital but was released again that night.
Mrs Sweeney’s late father Liam Coady, who passed away suddenly in August 2010, was a driver for An Taoiseach Enda Kenny for almost a decade.
