Elderly couple in thugs terror

Gardaí in the city have put in place an “extensive team of detectives” in a bid to track down two young thugs who robbed and assaulted an elderly couple in their home at Woodquay earlier this week.

The couple – a man in his early 90s and a woman in her 80s – had their front door forced open after answering a knock between 6pm and 6.30pm on Monday last from two youths claiming to be checking out the water supply.

One of the men stormed upstairs and ransacked a bedroom, while the elderly man was knocked against a wall as the duo left the house – they robbed the man’s wallet that contained a small amount of cash.

“This was a despicable crime that seriously traumatised two elderly people and we are appealing for anyone with information on this incident to contact us at Mill Street Station (091-538000),” said a Garda spokesman.

He said that an extensive team of detectives – under Detective Inspector Michael Coppinger – was working on the investigation since Monday last with a number of lines of inquiry being pursued.

The raiders are thought to have been in their early to mid-20s and both wore blue jeans and hooded jackets.

The Garda spokesman also advised householders – and especially the elderly – not to open their doors unless they were fully satisfied as to who was outside.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.