Elderly man tied to bed in house raid

AN 85-year-old man was tied to his bed for several hours as masked raiders ransacked his home near the village of Ballyvourney, Co Cork.

The robbery occurred as gardaí confirmed they have made a significant breakthrough in another case where an 89-year-old man died as a result of injuries he received after being attacked at his home in Ovens, Co Cork, last February.

A senior garda spokesman said the attack on the 85-year-old happened when the man was locking up his house at Rath-East, Ballyvourney, at around 10pm on Monday night.

"He was just about to close the back door when he was pushed inside and bundled up the stairs by two men who were wearing balaclavas. They then tied him to his bed."

The man was repeatedly asked where he hid his money but refused to answer. The raiders started ransacking the house and eventually fled the scene at 2am. They left the elderly man tied up and escaped with a small sum of money.

He eventually managed to free himself and at 8am contacted a nephew who lived nearby.

Gardai in Macroom are appealing for anybody who saw anything suspicious in the area between 10pm and 3am to contact them at (026) 20590.

Meanwhile, detectives from Cork city and west Cork arrested four men in a series of dawn swoops over the last three days as they investigate the attack on 89-year-old Patrick Delaney.

Gardaí said all four men were arrested in the city area. They are all aged in their 30s.

All four were released without charge.