Elderly Kilrea couple tied up in ‘terrifying’ robbery

The couple - aged 77 and 74 - and described as the “kindest and friendliest people you would ever want to meet” – and their daughter were left deeply traumatised after three masked men burst into their home at Manor Court area of Kilrea, Co Londonderry, on Tuesday 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 (37) 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.

East Londonderry SDLP MLA, John Dallat, who visited the shocked couple said:

‘Three raiders, two of them of stocky build, possibly with Ballymoney accents and a third who may have been from Belfast took advantage of the arrival of the couple’s daughter and burst into the home where all three were manhandled in the most violent way.

“The family was bound up with cable ties. A gun and a baseball bat were produced and daughter was told that the raiders knew money was in the house and if it wasn’t handed over the father would be shot.

‘The father tried to reason with the raiders and calm them down because they were highly agitated and there was genuine fear that the gun would be used and someone would be killed.

“After getting money which the daughter had been carrying the thieves pulled out the telephone cable and gave warning that if the police were contacted the raiders would return and shoot them.

“After the raiders left the father managed to get a scissors and they cut each other free before alerting the police from another phone.

“A police patrol which had been in the town was at the home within minutes and set up checkpoints but unfortunately the thieves escaped.”

Mr Dallat added: “This couple have resided in the town for over twenty years and are highly respected by everyone. The community is appalled and disgusted at the treatment they have received.

““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.

“Anyone with any information about this raid should get in touch with the PSNI immediately.”

Coleraine mayor, councillor Sam Cole, said: “This armed robbery has unnerved the entire local community and has undoubtedly resulted in a raising of the ‘fear of crime’ among the elderly residents in Kilrea and District in the run up to Christmas.

“These thugs have no scruples about who they target and the very real fear they have generated among the vulnerable in Kilrea by robbing a hapless lady and her elderly parents.”

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.”

Sinn Fein councillor, Ciaran Archibald added: ““This is a sickening attack which has left those involved traumatised. It is even more deplorable as it happened just before Christmas the season when we should to be extending goodwill to our neighbours.

“If you were in the area on Tuesday evening and seen or heard anything, please come forward and help catch the perpetrators and prevent further such attacks.”