Castlewellan Church of Ireland Minister and wife robbed

A Church of Ireland minister and his wife have been tied up by robbers who ransacked their house in County Down.

Canon Robin Greer and his wife Georgina were held up by two men, one of whom had a handgun, and the other with a knife at their Castlewellan home around 10.30pm on Monday April 29.

The intruders bound the couple hands and feet and put masking tape over their eyes. The robbers then took cash and credit cards, and escaped in the family’s red Volvo car which is still missing.

The couple freed themselves after an hour and raised the alarm.

The couple’s daughter, Margaret said her parents were visibly shaken after the ordeal and that her father had cuts to his wrists.

Canon Greer who has been a minister for 37 years is due to retire shortly.

South Down assembly member Eamonn O’Neill said he was “outraged” at the attack. He said: “Canon and Mrs Greet are two of the most highly respected members of our community and I am so disgusted that they have been forced to undergo such a horrific experience.

“I know I speak for everyone in the town of Castlewellan when I say that there is a sense of outrage at this attack. It is particularly dreadful as they are in their last month of 37 years service before retiring and leaving the area.

“Those who have been perpetrating such violent actions in the area have reached a new low and I will be meeting with local police to discuss the problems.”

Detectives in Castlewellan are appealing for information about the red Volvo car and if anyone seen the vehicle after 11pm on Monday.

(AMcE)