Gardaí: no reason to believe burglary was racially motivated

GARDAÍ don’t suspect that a robbery at a shop owned by a blind Nigerian and his wife was racially motivated.

Although thieves broke into the couple’s shop in Bandon, Co Cork, stole cigarettes and trashed the place, they left no indication they had targeted it because it was run by non-nationals.

However, Martha Asemota, who owns the shop with her husband, Festus, asked why burglars would smash up things they didn’t want.

“The smashed eggs all over the walls and broke other things, so I don’t know what to think,” the mother-of four said.

The couple, who emigrated from Nigeria six years ago, opened the shop at Castle Road last January.

This is the first time they have experienced a break-in. They sell groceries and specialise in African food.

Ms Asemota said: “They (the thieves) broke in through the roof. It happened during last Saturday night or Sunday morning. They stole about €1,000 of cigarettes and some lighters.”

Gardaí dusted the shop for fingerprints which might identify the culprits.

A garda spokesman yesterday said they at present they are not following any definite line of inquiry.

“We have no reason to believe this was racially motivated,” he said.

He appealed to anybody who may have seen anything suspicious in the Castle Road area last weekend to contact Bandon garda station at (023) 52200.