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Gang threatens pensioners in home | Gang threatens pensioners in home |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Two pensioners have been attacked in their home in Lurgan, County Armagh. | Two pensioners have been attacked in their home in Lurgan, County Armagh. |
The incident happened at Tarry Drive in the town on Tuesday night, when three masked men burst into the house after smashing their way in with hammers. | The incident happened at Tarry Drive in the town on Tuesday night, when three masked men burst into the house after smashing their way in with hammers. |
Robert, 72, and Gertrude Hesketh, 69, had just moved back into their family home of 40 years after living elsewhere for 18 months. | Robert, 72, and Gertrude Hesketh, 69, had just moved back into their family home of 40 years after living elsewhere for 18 months. |
They were told by the intruders that they had 48 hours to get out of the house or it would be burned down. | They were told by the intruders that they had 48 hours to get out of the house or it would be burned down. |
The couple's son, Owen, said he was not sure if his parents would return to their home following the attack. | The couple's son, Owen, said he was not sure if his parents would return to their home following the attack. |
One of the men used a hammer to smash a television and grandfather clock. | One of the men used a hammer to smash a television and grandfather clock. |
Windows were smashed in the attack | |
"Three men came in and threatened the two of them and said 'you've 48 hours to get out of the house or you're dead'," Owen said. | "Three men came in and threatened the two of them and said 'you've 48 hours to get out of the house or you're dead'," Owen said. |
"Mum stood up for herself and one of the masked men made a swipe for her, but I think he realised what he was about to do and missed her and put the hammer through the television. | "Mum stood up for herself and one of the masked men made a swipe for her, but I think he realised what he was about to do and missed her and put the hammer through the television. |
"They had just moved back into the house. | "They had just moved back into the house. |
"They moved out of the house a year and a half ago because they themselves thought it was too big for them to manage because they both had problems with their heart. | "They moved out of the house a year and a half ago because they themselves thought it was too big for them to manage because they both had problems with their heart. |
"Mum's more or less paralysed in her left hand. "None of the two of them can do what they used to do. | "Mum's more or less paralysed in her left hand. "None of the two of them can do what they used to do. |
"I honestly can't see them coming back now, because the whole thing about moving back was 'we are going back to our roots'." | "I honestly can't see them coming back now, because the whole thing about moving back was 'we are going back to our roots'." |
The gang did not steal anything during the burglary and it is not yet clear why the couple were targeted. | The gang did not steal anything during the burglary and it is not yet clear why the couple were targeted. |
"It was just a pure and utter savage threat," Owen added. | "It was just a pure and utter savage threat," Owen added. |