Ballynahinch couple’s anger at gang robbery

Ballynahinch couple’s anger at gang robbery

22 January 2014

AN elderly and disabled Ballynahinch couple have condemned the masked men who burst into their home and stole savings of over £2,000 as “scumbags”.

Bridget Boyle (81) and her husband Patrick (77) were watching TV in their bedroom when the men, one armed with a screwdriver, came through the unlocked back door of their house shortly after 8pm on Monday evening.

One of their sons was with them at the time. The gang then split up, bringing another son down from upstairs and herding them all in the bedroom while they ransacked drawers in the house.

Claiming they were from the LVF, the men said they were looking for drugs in the Loughside Drive house and locked the front and back doors to make sure no-one could leave.

One was overheard to remark during the 15 minute search that they thought they were in the wrong house. Spying Mrs. Boyle’s purse under a cushion by the bed, they took it and other cash in the house, claiming it was drug money.

While remaining as calm as possible during the attack, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle said they had spent a sleepless night afterwards, and were now feeling the shock of what happened.

“Last night we did not sleep any at all, we were up and down,” said Mr. Boyle.

“I think if they had not found the money they would have been a bit rougher. It could have been worse.

“Why did they come here? We had two or three bills to pay and got money as presents at Christmas.

“They saw Bridie’s purse under the pillow, and there was £600 in the purse.”

Mr. Boyle, who had one of his arms amputated following a road accident, said they had been planning to put the money away safely but were also going to use some of it for heating oil.

Reflecting on when one of men entered his bedroom, announced they were from the LVF and told them all to sit down, Mr. Boyle said he was stunned.

“I thought at first it was some of our own family acting the cod, though they would not do that,” he said.

“We were just watching EastEnders.”

While remaining calm throughout the frightening incident, Mrs. Boyle said she made it clear to the gang they would not get what they were looking for.

“I said there was no drugs in the house,” she said. “I heard one of them say ‘we are in the wrong house’ but it did not stop them searching. It did not stop them taking the money.”

Pointing out that she had limited mobility, Mrs. Boyle said: “I am disabled. They are letting their own organisation down very badly, to come in and do that on disabled pensioners.

“They really are scumbags... to come in and upset two pensioners. Thank God they did not do us any harm.

“I suppose if they had not got what they were looking for it would have been a different story. We have been 40 years in this house and have never had any trouble before.”

Mother and father to 12 children, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle said they were grateful their large family was on hand to help.

Appealing for anyone with any information at all on the attack to come forward to police, Mr. Boyle said: “We would not like to see it happen to anyone else.”

Some of the couple’s children who gathered yesterday to comfort their parents described the gang as “cool as cucumbers” and “well organised”. They said the men did make it clear they weren’t going to hurt their parents and they remain puzzled as to the motivation of the attack.

They described the gang as aged under 30, with one aged around 18 to 20. One is also thought to have an English accent.

Detectives are keen to hear from witnesses or anyone with information about this crime. They can be contacted on 0845 600 8000. To provide information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.