Young woman's arm broken in attempted robbery

A young shop assistant's arm has been broken during an attempted robbery in Carryduff.

The incident occurred at around 11.00pm on Tuesday evening in the Spar on the Ballynahinch Road. The 18-year-old was serving behind the counter when she was approached by a masked man wielding an iron bar who demanded cash. When she refused to hand over any money the man struck her with the iron bar breaking her arm.

A police spokesperson confirmed that two men arrested later were "helping with their enquiries".

Meanwhile the SDLP assembly member for East Derry John Dallat has condemned an attack on an elderly woman in her home in Coleraine.

Two men tricked their way into the 84-year-old's house in Coleraine on Tuesday evening. The victim answered a knock at the door of her Union Street home at about 4.30pm.

The two men - claiming to be doing a survey on damp - then conned their way into the house. Once inside, they pushed her onto the settee in the living room. While one of them held her down, the other ransacked the house. They got away with money and a cheque book.

M Dallat said: “This is a particularly sinister attack. Those who carried out the attack are the lowest form of life. Unfortunately attacks of this nature appear to be on the increase.

“It is important that everyone redouble their efforts to protect the vulnerable. It is also important organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul and Help the Aged are given help and support as they carry out their essential work in the community.”

(SP)