AN ELDERLY couple ended up in hospital after they were assaulted in their own home during an attempted burglary on the property in the early hours of the morning.
The couple, who were in their 70s, were attacked at their home in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, by a lone assailant, said to be a woman, who entered the property and began threatening the pair.
Things turned ugly during the robbery, with one of couple attacked with an ashtray.
The burglar fled the scene with a sum of cash and some other items with the couple calling gardaí to the scene as she made her escape.
They were subsequently taken to the nearby Letterkenny University Hospital.
Thankfully, neither sustained serious injuries, save for a few cuts, but the ordeal of the violent theft left both in a severe state of shock.
The couple have been released from hospital while Gardai continue to investigate the burglary.
A spokesperson said: "Gardaí are investigating a burglary that occurred at a property in Coolboy, Letterkenny this morning at approximately 7am.
"A sum of cash and property was taken from the premises. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing."
Local county councillor and chairman of the Joint Policing Committee, Gerry McMonagle, told the Irish Examiner that both he and the local community as a whole are “horrified” by the attack.
“To break into somebody's home is bad enough but to beat and threaten them as well is just disgusting,” he said.
"There is absolutely no excuse for this and especially during a pandemic.
"This poor couple will have to live with this ordeal for the rest of their lives now.
"I would appeal to anybody who may have been in this area, although it is remote, and who may have seen anything suspicious to contact the Gardai," he added.
Anyone who may have information related to the crime is being encouraged to contact Milford Garda Station or Letterkenny Garda station.
