This article is from page 3 of the 2013-04-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
ANOTHER late night aggravated burglary in Kilmihil has sent shock waves through the West Clare community, with many people now living in fear.
According to Clare County Councillor Bill Chamber (FF) “Anyone living alone is living in fear, especially vulnerable people such as the elderly and disadvantaged.”
He was speaking in the aftermath of a Holy Thursday night aggravated burglary during which a gang of three armed men broke into a house in the Knockalough area of Kilmihil.
Carrying iron bars the three entered the home of a 61-year-old man and threatened him.
They left the house on the main Ennis to Kilmihil road shortly af terwards with a sum of money.
Gardaí in Kilrush are investigating this latest aggravated burglary and are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.
Two elderly brothers from Kilmihil were also the victims of an aggravated burglary before Christmas.
“The Government has to lift the moratorium on Garda recruitment. We need more gardaí and we certainly cannot do with less,” said Cllr Chambers.
“There is a lot of fear out there at the moment.”
“The whole judicial system has to be looked in respect of this type of crime,” he said adding that such crimes need to be fast tracked through the court system and the criminals put behind bars as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Gardaí in Ennistymon are appealing for information following an aggravated burglary in a rural area of Clare last week.
An elderly married couple were subjected to a frightening ordeal when a group of intruders broke into their home in the Inagh/Connolly area in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
It is thought that two or three people entered the home, which is an isolated rural area. A quantity of cash was taken.
The couple were unhurt but are said to have been left extremely traumatised by the incident. Gardaí in Ennistymon are investigating and have appealed for anyone who may have noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact them at 065 7071020.
A Garda spokesperson said, “They were traumatised and very upset. It was obviously a very frightening experience for them.
They have been getting support from their neighbours and family. They have been extremely upset by it. Everyone in the area has been upset by it.”
Gardaí are also urging people to call and check in on any elderly neighbours living in their area.
“It is something we would encourage people to do, calling into elderly neighbours.
“It is important, especially in rural communities, that people call in and check on their neighbours.”