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IN THE PAST week a number of elderly people have been the victims of violent attacks in their own homes.
Eamon Timmins from Age Action told TheJournal.ie that people feel more vulnerable in old age and an attack can affect the rest of their lives.
He added that one such attack can actually create a number of victims as elderly people become more fearful and then don’t feel safe in their homes or community.
Timmis said, “There’s a responsibility on the community to be good neighbours.
If someone suspicious comes to your door – it’s not enough just to get rid of them. We need to check at where the person is going and alert people.
The attacks
On Monday night three men tied up and robbed an elderly couple in Bray, Wicklow. They ransacked their home before leaving with jewellery.
The couple – aged in their 80s – had to be treated for shock.
While last Thursday morning an elderly woman in her 80s was tied up and gagged with duck tape in Clonee, Co Meath.
When the raiders couldn’t find anything – they tore the tape from her mouth and dragged her around the house demanding she tell them where the valuables were kept.
And last Tuesday evening in Clondalkin, Dublin – a watch worth €4,000 was ripped from a 72-year-old man’s wrist as he was about to prepare his dinner.
Two men broke in and threatened to kill the pensioner with a knife – they cut his face and stole his mobile and watch – which is said to have a strong sentimental value to the man.
Meanwhile, last month saw an elderly shopkeeper robbed for the third time in three months – which led to calls for an increased garda presence in the area.
Jimmy Collins from Ardfert, Kerry was not at home for any of the three burglaries. Timmins said:
These are particularly cowardly nasty crimes and it’s very hard for elderly people to recover.
“We would always say to people that if they take basic precautions- they are less likely to be attacked.
“We are urging people to not keep cash in the house and to lock windows and doors and get a chain for the door as it’s very cost effective.
“Answer the door but use the chain and look at a persons card – if you’re still not sure ring the garda.”
Gardaí have issued advice to older people and on the topic of strangers calling to the door, they warn, “If in doubt, keep them out.”
The full information sheet can be viewed here.
http://garda.ie/Documents/User/PS1%20-%20Security%20for%20the%20Older%20Person-2009-07-29.pdf
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Nomadic criminal gangs are roaming the countryside at will. They have no fear of the law.
It’s not up to neighbours to try fight these criminals. It’s up to the state to deal with these dangerous criminals once and for all
Why is CAB, revenue not involved in this fight as well?
Here’s an idea. Take a selection of army rangers, train them as guards and set them the task of ridding us of these vermin,
see what pavee point have to say about that?
Absolutely agree. It’s not the neighbours responsibility. If these fkrs had more fear of the consequences of their actions they might be less likely to commit the crime. They’re getting away with it so why wouldn’t they do it. It’s not right that old people must live in fear.
All cold calling to homes (home repairs, charity collectors) should be illegal without a permit. It is no accident that the elderly are targeted, it’s either locals or a result of a previous caller. Pure skum need putting away for a long time !
Also I think the rise in heroin use contributes to this.. They can be so desperate to get money for their next fix they would do anything.. But a lot of these robberies seem to be to well planed out to be a heroin user.. No prizes for guessing what other type of sc@m are committing these robberies!
This was in a local paper in Galway City only today.
Local gardai saying that burglaries are up almost a fifth in recent months.
They said three main groups are targeting mostly senior citizens – usually when the victims are at Mass.
The groups are: local repeat offenders, gangs from other towns such as Dublin, Cork, limerick and Waterford, and east European gangs that fly in and out.
Whatever about the first two, it’s a sad state of affairs that gangs from abroad can fly in at will, clean out senior citizens here and leave at their leisure.
One might presume that the government have set up a special task force to clamp down and protect its citizens.
Not bloody likely.
shotgun is the appropriate tool for such a job
Longer sentences for offenders would be a start
Nice to see the majority of us in favour of the right to bear arms.
Good to see the vast majority are in favour of the right to bare arms
And in other news, murderer successfully sues prison warden for unconstitutionally keeping him in solitary confinement for too long for his own safety. The judges need a kick of reality, take note any that are reading, these are the kinds of criminals yous refuse to lock up. older people are always going to be targets because they’re easy. Cowards
You honestly think giving a loaded 12-gauge shotgun to an frail eighty-year-old woman and saying “there you go now dear!” is a good approach to solving this problem?
An old person odds are even with a gun would be overpowered fast.
What needs to be done is a message sent out to a certain minority that if they get caught doing this it’s life in jail
A S&W Govenor revolver would do the trick. Fires a mixture of bullets or /and .410 shotgun shells. It is light and has little recoil.
Pensioners get mugged, meanwhile solicitors barristers and judges make millions from the farcical merry go round juctice system……
Its time for one theft, one finger off approach
Forget “overpowered”, does anyone actually think a frail eighty-year-old is even going to be able to fire a shotgun without injuring themselves? Or that these criminals are targeting non-frail eighty-year-olds who could? There is a solution to this and it isn’t handing out shotguns to the elderly.
It’s funding the Gardai
.
It’s not closing Garda stations all over the country.
It’s not having recruitment freezes in the Gardai
And it’s charging the Gardai with going out there and turning things like “Operation Anvil” into “Operation What We Do Every Day Of The Week” and then picking up the bill for that.
Who said a 12 gauge shotgun? There are plenty of guns to suit. You wouldn’t buy a size 12 shoes if you took a size 6.
I think perhaps you’re missing the point there Shawn.
In France its allowed to keep a firearm for home defense, just saying
Mark Dennehy try a .410 less mess…
A wise man once said if someone breaks into your house,
Shoot them Dead…
Thwn put a second warning shot in the ceiling….
Very hard to prove in which order you fired the shots……
Just ask Oscar Pistorious.
The plaster would end up on top of the blood splater
I take it you watch a lot of Dexter.. But a very good point.. Would have never thought of that!
Arm the elderly !!
No jury in the land would convict them.
Lowest of the low, absolute bottom feeders.
Send these sc#mb@gs over to Syria
another point, it is time that some judge handed down an exemplary sentence to some of the roving men and women who intimidate old people into handing over cash.
The word would quickly spread around the settlements throughout the country.
Always keep the shotgun loaded, in case the rats go near the oats. That’s what it’s for, after all — for the control of vermin.
John Mulligan you should Never keep a shotgun loaded indoors
But the oats?
And now Australia has deported more of these travelling thugs back to Ireland
If only we had Gardai investigating this crime instead of being used for political protesting. This government is using the Gardai as their own personal police force, and not only are innocent people being arrested for things which are not criminal, actual criminals are now able to get away with this sort of thing because Enda and Joan are more worried about water meters than the health of our citizens.
Maybe if people didn’t physically threaten workers doing their job, the Garda resources should be used elsewhere
*Could
I think the problem is that the judges are too liberal see the criminals as victims. It would be good to post online the various sentences for crime. The people have a right to know how the courts are failing the people.
One idea would be the criminal must recompense the victim from his or her dole rather than go to jail.
These crimes came to a sudden, albeit temporary stop after Padraig Nally’s great shot in Mayo. Just sayin….
You need a chain for your front door-and your back door if you have a side entrance.
you also need a siren which can be activated by a hand held remote control when people come to your door and you want to be rid of them quickly.
these basic security tools cost very little.
every family who have old people should look out for them and install these.
a small wall or floor safe is also essential-if only to keep personal jewellery etc.
I never understand why insurance companies do not demand a safe and burglar alarm if there are valuables insured.
I know one couple who had 50,000 Euros worth of jewellery hidden in a wardrobe in their house,which was burglarized when they were away on holidays. they are still fighting with the insurers to try and get compensation.!
Where is the Minister of Justice ???
A strong Elder Abuse law is overdue. A minimum sentence of 10 years in prison would be a good starting point for a penalty.
How many times have we read about people getting suspended sentences for various crimes even though they have 50+ previous convictions. What we’re doing obviously isn’t working, maybe it’s time to change our strategy and make it painful for these people. Suspended sentences are not a deterrent for hardened or habitual criminals so let’s stop doing it. I believe in live and let live but as soon as you cross the line and victimise other people, justice should be swift and robust. Protection of the public and victim’s rights have to be the priority and let’s stop being easy on these vermin.
My grandad shot gun would have come in handy these days. He would have made them pee themselves. And that was in the 70,s in Dublin. I blame money,no fear of anyone or consequences inside the home or outside. There is a huge break down in our society.
Travellers do love a nice expensive watch but im sure members of that community werent involved in any of these incidents
Build the new jail. We have less prison spaces and a growing population.
Proper policing and proper court sentencing would go a long way in curing this problem. When Garda stations are being closed due to cut backs, Garda resources being used to go after anti water charges protesters, criminals who prey on the old and the vunerable have it easy. There again, ordinary people, especially the old, are not high on the list of government priorities.
We are rural and worried. No neighbours or anyone to keep an eye on us.
4 robberies now, took a blanket as not much here. Mean I call it.
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