Elderly woman's home burgled twice in six months

A widow in her seventies whose home in Kells was burgled twice in the past six months while she was attending Mass has called for increased Garda patrols in the area.

Margaret Donohoe told how her home at Rockfield Road, Kells, was first burgled on 21st September and she was so traumatised by the event that she ended up in hospital for six days with heart issues.

She recalled that she had been at Mass in Kells and as soon as she entered her home, she saw that the door she had closed to the sitting room was open and her first thought was whether they were still upstairs.

"They broke the dining room window to get in and wrecked the place. Everything was all pulled out. They even pulled the cushions apart looking for money. They took my wedding ring, engagement ring and eternity ring."

Margaret was so shaken by the ordeal that she ended up spending six days in hospital. She took precautions afterwards and changed her routine, sometimes going to Mass on a Saturday evening, sometimes not.

Then on Saturday, 8th February, sadly her home was targeted for a second time, while Margaret was at 6.30pm Mass.

"I got a strange feeling that a car was following me. It was a small Fiat. It drove behind me into Kells and followed me into the car park. There was a young fella of about 15 in it and two others that I didn't get a look at.

"I thought to myself were they going back to do my house but put the thought out of my mind thinking I was imagining it."

However, when Margaret got back to her home in Rockfield, she saw the storm door was open wider than usual and immediately she was on alert. As she was getting ready to get out of the car, she said a young fella opened the door of her car and took her bag.

"I made sure there was no money in the house. They must have thought that I had money in my bag and waited until I got home.

"I screamed and got out of the car to run after him. I knew I wouldn't get my bag back but I wanted to see what car he got into.

The car that Margaret believed followed her was a small Fiat but there was a saloon type car, possibly a Jaguar or similar parked beside her neighbour's house. Margaret said she had noticed the car but thought it was visitors at her neighbour's house."

"They wrecked the whole house and emptied everything out. I don't think they took anything. But I had some money in my bag and my passport and bank cards and other things.

"I had to cancel my cards. They must have thrown my passport out the window as it was found on the side of the road in Fordstown and was handed in to the garda station."

Margaret got a partial registration of the car and did her best to give descriptions to gardai. Having heard of other people in the vicinity also having their homes broken into, she wants to raise awareness and is also calling for increased garda patrols in the area.

Margaret feels that older people over the age of 65 are being targeted as the culprits think they are more likely to have cash.

"Four of us were widowed people, living alone who go to Mass. Two other houses in the estate were burgled twice, as well as me.

"There need to be more patrols to deter these people."

After her handbag was taken off the seat of her car in the latest incident, Margaret is also appealing to people to make sure they lock their doors when they are in their cars until they are ready to get out.

Gardai have confirmed that they are both incidents at Margaret's home are under active investigation.

If you have been affected by burglary and would like to share your experience in confidence please email noelle.finegan@meathchronicle.ie.