Woman (94) and two sons victims of aggravated burglary in Co Roscommon

The community of Ballintubber, Co Roscommon, was “sickened” by the “calculated” burglary gang that targeted a 94-year-old woman and her two sons at their home and adjoining business, according to local people.

While only a small amount of cash, and other items such as cigarettes, was taken in the robbery and none of the victims was seriously injured, Roscommon Active Age said the nature of the crime instilled fear in older and vulnerable people across the county.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when a number of men forced their way into the family-run shop and their adjoining home. Gardaí believe they were armed with implements, possibly screwdrivers, and threatened the householders.

One of the victims, a man in his 60s, suffered a minor injury, though he did not need medical treatment. However, local sources said the attack, during which the victims were threatened, would generate a lot of worry in the area.

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The incident is the second burglary in the small rural village this year, after Kenny’s Pub was burgled in January. Eileen Kenny, local publican and shop-owner, said that the aggravated burglary has “sickened” the whole community.

“Speaking from my own point-of-view, I have experienced two robberies now. One here in our private house, which was horrendous, both the invasion and the violation was just horrendous,” she said. “I know what these people are going through – they’re such a lovely, quiet family, and they run a lovely business up there,” Ms Kenny added. She expressed sympathy for the victims.

Tom Coppinger, chairman of Roscommon Active Age said such incidents make elderly people feel at risk. “Especially elderly people in rural areas, isolated areas, where there aren’t people in the immediate vicinity that they can turn to,” Mr Coppinger said. “To think that an old lady like that, can’t be allowed to live her life without being intruded upon like that. It’s a sad reflection on the society we’re living in at the moment.”

Fr Pat O’Toole, a priest in Ballymoe and Ballintubber parish, said that the incident was “calculated”. Prayers were offered at the local church for the family on Tuesday, he said.

Garda sources said they suspect the burglary was carried out by a gang who believed the family may have a large amount of money and other items they could steal.

The scene has undergone an examination by the Garda Technical Bureau and gardaí are hopeful the victims may be able to provide information about the attackers.

While the attack occurred in a rural area, gardaí were hopeful CCTV footage from the region may have captured the attackers’ vehicle before or after the burglary.

Gardaí investigating the aggravated burglary have appealed to anyone who was in the vicinity of Ashpark, Ballintubber, between 10pm on Sunday and 1am on Monday to contact Castlerea Garda station. “Any road users who were in the area and who may have camera — including dash cam — footage is asked to make this available to gardaí,” the Garda said in a statement.

An aggravated burglary is one where a weapon or the threat of a weapon is used. There were 233 such crimes recorded in the Republic last year, 293 in 2020 and 275 in 2019.

Overall, burglary rates — aggravated and non-aggravated — have been in decline in recent years. There were 28,500 burglaries recorded in 2012, down to 16,800 in 2019. In 2020 and 2021 — when most crimes plummeted due to the pandemic — some 10,900 and 8,600 burglaries were recorded.

Burglaries began to increase, along with other crime types, in the first six months of this year with the lifting of pandemic restrictions. However, the burglary rate in the first six months of this year was still almost 40 per cent lower than in the same period of 2019.