This article is from page 1 of the 2012-09-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
GARDAÍ arrested three men less than an hour after they were suspected of robbing an elderly woman and her family at knifepoint in her West Clare home, thanks to the quick thinking of a neighbour.
The late evening aggravated burglary has stunned the surrounding rural area of Cooraclare and Kilmurry McMahon, with local people shocked by the happenings late on Friday evening last.
Between 8.30 and 8.45pm noises were heard by the occupants of the isolated house situated between the Kilrush road and Kilmurry McMahon.
“Three males were seen in the yard wearing gloves and had their faces covered. One of them threw a concrete block through the window and demanded money from the occupants,” said Gardaí.
The culprits did not gain access to the house but it is understood that they threatened the terrified 80-yearold and her adult daughter and son through the broken window using a knife.
A small amount of cash was handed over after which the gang fled the scene. The occupants quickly raised the alarm. A quick-thinking neighbour spotted the three leaving the house and getting into a car.
The neighbour noted the vehicle registration and notified Gardaí in Kilrush who issued a countywide alert to other stations.
As the car was seen heading towards Ennis, gardaí prepared to intercept it on the outskirts of the county town.