Gardai say they are using every resource available to bring the criminals who attacked an elderly Roscrea couple to justice.
94 year old Jimmy Campion is still recovering after being struck by the raiders who broke into his home in the North Tipp town on Sunday night while his wife Maura who raised the alarm remains deeply traumatised.
Meanwhile Age Action is calling on older people in Tipperary to contact the Citizens Assembly on the challenges facing our ageing population.
Speaking on Tipp Today with Fran Curry – Secretary of Roscrea Active Retirement Group Margaret Doyle says the vicious attack on the Campions has really shook the entire community – particularly those who are older and more vulnerable.
94 year old Jimmy Campion had to be hospitalised and required several stitches in his head after he was struck by the raiders – family members believe they hit him with his own walking stick which was found broken on the ground.
His wife Maura who is 87 raised the alarm after the break-in on Sunday night and- has been left deeply traumatised by the incident and it’s understood she hasn’t returned home but is staying with family.
In the hours after the incident Roscrea Gardai had an incident room up and running and they say there are following several lines of inquiry and have indentified over 60 investigative actions.
Speaking to Tipp FM – Lead Investigator Inspector Seamus Maher says they are pulling out all the stops on this
Officers are also carrying out door to door inquiries and trawling through CCTV footage – Inspector Maher is also urging any other members of the public who may have information on the raid – to contact them
In the wake of the vicious assault members of Roscrea Active Retirement held a meeting yesterday to discuss security for older people
They are calling for more gardaí to police the North Tipp town – particularly along the old Dublin Road which would have a greater number of older residents and they are urging vulnerable people to get security bracelets or pendants
Secretary Margaret Doyle feels the law just isn’t on the side of the victim
Meanwhile Age Action – has urged older people in Tipperary to make submissions to the Citizens’ Assembly, which will now consider the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.
The organisation which is making its own submission feels the Assembly needs to hear from individual older people and their families in Tipperary to ensure that they get a full understanding of what it is like to grow old in Ireland.
For her part Margaret says the thoughts and prayers of the community are with Jimmy and Maura Campion and she hopes they will come through this ordeal.
