An elderly couple – described as the “kindest and friendliest people you would ever want to meet” – have been tied up at gunpoint in their own home by a three-man gang during a terrifying robbery ordeal.
The couple – aged 77 and 74 – and their 37-year-old daughter were left deeply traumatised after three masked men burst into their home in the Manor Court area of Kilrea, Co Londonderry, on Tuesday night.
Last night, a member of the family said the robbery victims did not wish to comment but revealed that they had suffered minor injuries in the attack.
It is understood that the daughter had been returning to her parents’ home with Christmas presents at 10.40pm when she was followed into the house by the gang.
A police spokesman said they believed the men were armed with a firearm and a baseball bat.
They tied up the daughter and her two parents before making off with a sum of cash.
DUP MLA Adrian McQuillan said the community in Kilrea and the surrounding area was outraged by what had happened to the family.
“It is all people could talk about in the village today,” he said.
“I would appeal for anyone with information about this to contact the police. Someone out there has information about this.”
The pensioners have been described by SDLP MLA John Dallat as the “kindest and friendliest people you would ever want to meet”.
“They didn’t deserve this and those who carried out the robbery should hang their heads in shame,” said Mr Dallat.
“What a dreadful thing to do to people in the mouth of Christmas. Have these thieves stooped to the lowest level possible? I believe so.
“I hardly remember when we last had a robbery in Kilrea.
“It is one of the safest places to live and people will be shocked that this has happened in their neighbourhood.”
Mr Dallat added: “It would be nice to see the thieves locked up for Christmas as this couple and their daughter try to recover from their ordeal.”
Recent research carried out by the charity Age Sector Platform revealed that one in two elderly people in Co Londonderry are living in fear of crime.
Last month, DUP MP Gregory Campbell questioned the Justice Minister on whether he would undertake his own research into the fear of crime against the elderly and whether he will “offer assurance to elderly people regarding the penalties available to the courts for people found guilty of such criminal activity”.
Mr Ford said his department was considering research.
“Tackling crime against older and vulnerable people is a commitment for my department within the Programme for Government and the Community Safety Strategy,” he said.