Attack On Pensioner Condemned

An 80-year-old man has been tied up in his own home during an aggravated burglary in County Antrim.

He was attacked and trussed-up with cable by a gang at about 10.40pm on Tuesday in the Calvert Road area, outside Dundrod.

They demanded money from the pensioner having tied him with the cable while the property was ransacked.

Soon afterwards, the Sinn Fein Councillor Anne Marie Logue hit out at those who carried out the attack.

"I am disgusted that people are still targeting old and vulnerable people in their homes and subjecting them to a reign of terror.

"This man in the twilight of his life was tied up and robbed by people who don't care what the consequences are for the old people concerned.

"This is now the second case where an pensioner has been targeted in the Crumlin area and the people who are carrying out these attacks need to be taken off our streets," she continued.

"These attacks are being aimed at the elderly in isolated rural areas and I would call on people living in these areas to look in on their elderly neighbours and to report anything suspicious to the police no matter how trivial they may think it is," she said, adding: "My thoughts are with this man and hope that he recovers fully from his ordeal and that anyone who has any information to bring it forward before this gang attacks their parents or grandparents."

The SDLP Antrim Councillor Thomas Burns has also condemned the robbery of an 80-year-old man in Dundrod.

"I condemn this robbery. Older people are definitely worried about safety in their homes. There has been a spate of such robberies," he added.

"Those responsible have no conscience and are obviously dangerous individuals. Their cowardly actions have disgusted people in the local area.

"I continue to urge people to always look after their elderly family members and neighbours, drop in, phone each day and make sure their home security is up-to-date," he said.

(LB)