NEIGHBOURS of the elderly farmer shot by raiders on Saturday night were afraid to be named yesterday because they fear that the gang may return to the area a third time.
Last night, a spokeswoman at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin said Mr Andy Kingston (77) was in a "comfortable " condition. He had surgery on Sunday for the gunshot wound to his leg.
His brother, Mr Tom Kingston (79), was staying with neighbours who said he was very shocked and did not wish to speak about his ordeal.
"It is an awful thing to have happened. Everyone is very frightened around here that they could come back", said a close neighbour. "The Kingstons were nice, ordinary, good living men who loved a game of cards. You would never have guessed that they had that much money in the house."
The brothers were at home on Saturday night in Kilballyowen, near Aughrim, with a younger neighbour, when two men wearing balaclavas and armed with sawn off shotgun, entered the house and demanded money. One of the men was over six feet tall and the other was smaller both were wearing anoraks.
Mr Andy Kingston, who had been sitting in a chair, was shot in the right knee during the robbery. Four pounds was taken from the pocket of the neighbour after the men searched the house. The gang then tied up the three men.
Garda Insp John Castles said that while the Kingston brothers were elderly they were "strong, hardy men and not weaklings". But Mr Andy Kingston had no time to even stand up before he was shot, he said.
Last Tuesday night, a gang of raiders broke into the house and after threatening the brothers, stole their life savings, believed to be about £12,000, which was kept in biscuit tins.
It is believed the gang entered the house on Saturday night using a key which was in the front door.