Swords pensioner hospitalised after three men raid home

Gardaí in north Dublin are appealing for witnesses to the aggravated burglary of an elderly man in his home.

The break-in took place at Kettle’s Lane, Swords, Co Dublin last Friday between 3am and 4am.

Three men, carrying weapons, entered a house, demanded money and assaulted the home owner, a man in his early 80s. He was later taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Gardaí said the three offenders were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas. At least two of them spoke with Dublin accents. They fled the scene with a small amount of cash.

Gardaí­ are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact them at Malahide Garda station on 01-6664600, the Garda Confidential Line, 1800-666111 or at any Garda station.

Independent councillor for Swords Anne Devitt said the majority of Fingal was rural and it was not immune to the security difficulties that affected rural communities.

Expressing her sympathies to the man and his family, Cllr Devitt said Fingal Council prevented more than one member of each family from building in a rural area and “this has broken down the extended family set-up”, whereby family members lived close to their elderly relatives.

She said “we as a planning authority are interfering in the natural process of rural communities in an inhumane way, leaving elderly people alone and isolated”.