Katesbridge pensioner describes horrific attack
Pacemaker Press 30/10/2012 George Burns aged 80 who has been tied up by two men during a burglary at his house on the outskirts of Banbridge, County Down. The men, one of whom was carrying a knife, entered the property on the Aughnacloy Road, near Lower Castlevennon Road. They pushed the pensioner to the ground and tied him up before making off with a sum of cash. He was taken to hospital for treatment Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
A KATESBRIDGE pensioner beaten by burglars in his own home said he will never forget the moment they attacked him.
Eighty-five year-old George Burns was left black and blue after two men, one of whom was armed with a knife, broke into the his Aughnacloy Road home on Monday night.
He was tied to a chair and beaten in his arms, hands and wrists and the elderly victim said he could have died in the vicious attack.
The pair, described as being in their 40s and well-built, stole money from Mr Burns before making off, and he was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital for treatment.
He said he heard a noise and when he went downstairs to investigate he was confronted by the men.
“I’m lucky, they could have killed me,” he said. “I heard the door. He was looking money. I was frightened enough to tell you the truth. I knew rightly they were coming to do me harm.
“They beat the arms off me, beat the hands off me, beat everything. The fella pushed me up into the room then the next fella was standing there with a knife - and they gave me an awful beating.
“They only didn’t beat me round the head and face.”
Mr Burns added that he now feels too afraid to return to his home to spend a night there.
He said he is grateful he was not left with worse injuries.
“I have my marks here to carry on my arms and wrists but it could have been worse, I could be lying here with my eyes closed,” he said.
Local councillor Seamus Doyle, a friend of Mr Burns, said everyone in the area is disgusted at what has happened.
“These thugs broke the window down and came in and tied him in his chair and took some money,” said the Knockiveagh councillor.
“His injuries are to his wrists but the trauma of somebody going into his house and him on his own is desperate. George Burns has lived here a lot of his life, he’s a quiet gentleman who didn’t bother anybody and the local community are disgusted with this.”
South Down MLA John McCallister also condemned the assault.
He said: “The fact that one of the two individuals responsible carried a knife indicates just how dangerous these men are and how important it is that they are caught.
“I am absolutely disgusted that a man in his 80s should have the safety of his home violated and be subjected to a sickening and terrifying ordeal during which he was tied up, pushed to the ground and had a sum of cash stolen.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Dromore
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
