A powerful public appeal for more garda resources in North Roscommon has been made by an Elphin resident. Her appeal comes in the wake of the devastating impact of a recent break-in at her family home where a gang of raiders ransacked the house, disturbed her father’s ashes, poured bleach everywhere and assaulted their pet dog.
Neither she nor her family were at home at the time but, speaking to the Roscommon Herald, the woman described the chilling scene they faced at their house in the aftermath of the crime, which occurred sometime between midday and 2 p.m. on August 20th last.
She described in harrowing detail the “reign of terror” inflicted on her family, how the back door was broken by a gang of thieves who proceeded to ransack the house and steal a number of items, some of which had great personal value.
“They took all our jewellery, wedding ring, engagement ring, eternity ring, dress ring — everything from a jewellery point of view was taken — and a small amount of cash was taken. Our wedding album was also taken and my dad’s ashes were brought downstairs and thrown on the kitchen table,” she recalled.
During the ransacking, the raiders took a safe and a laptop, and damaged a number of items in the house, including presses and a cooker.
The family dog was also assaulted. “They beat the dog — it was not in a good state when we came back. The dog is recovering slowly from his beating,” she said.
The gang also poured bleach everywhere, possibly to avoid fingerprinting and identification.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s a reign of terror on the people of North Roscommon by this gang,” she said.
She has now called for extra garda resources and heightened security for communities in North Roscommon “given the level of activity that appears to be going on in the area at the minute”.
She also pointed out that there were a lot of elderly people living on their own in the area where she lived. “I want to see extra resources in the area to help people feel a little bit safer and be able to sleep at night.”
