90-year-old badly assaulted and robbed at home

EASTER MONDAY was a normal day for John Mitchell — the spritely 90-year-old walked to morning mass, as he does every day.

After mass he popped into the supermarket and headed back to his flat in Clareville Court, a quiet sheltered housing complex, in Glasnevin, north Dublin.

Sometime after 1pm, as Mr Mitchell turned the key on the back door of his ground-floor flat, two youths jumped on him and pushed him inside. They tied him to a chair and proceeded to savagely beat him around the head and face.

Gardaí are also investigating reports they threatened him with a syringe.

The youths left with what little they could get: €40, €60 at most.

“This is a serious assault, involving very serious facial injuries to the right eye. The victim received six to seven fractures to the cheek bone, including his lower right eye socket,” said Inspector Tony Gallagher of Mountjoy Garda Station.

Initially, there were fears Mr Mitchell might loose his right eye. However, surgeons at the Mater Hospital were yesterday hopeful it would be saved.

Mr Mitchell, originally from Longford and a single man, lay in pain in his flat for some two hours before he could raise the alarm.

A neighbour was the first to find him. “He was still tied into the chair. He had a bad gash in the head and a very bad eye. He was very tightly tied up with black tape. It’s only sinking in today, the brutality of it.”

She said two e20 notes lay on the floor, suggesting the burglars may have left suddenly and they had cut alarm wires connected to a council call-centre.

“He was not distressed,” she said. “He could tell me what happened. He was coming up the green and saw two guys sitting on the green. I reckon they followed him.”

Both gardaí and neighbours described Mr Mitchell as a strong man, particularly for his age. Most thought he was in his 70s, such is his health.

“God love him. He’s such a quiet, private man, very civil,” said one neighbour.

Another said: “He’s a fatherly figure. He doesn’t go around knocking on other people’s doors, but he watches out for others. When I was doing up my flat he came in and helped move the furniture.”

Gardaí describe the attackers as male and in their late teens or early 20s.

“It’s incredible he was beaten to such an extent for a very small amount,” said one garda.

Gardaí have asked anyone who was in Glasnevin Cemetery, which is across the road from Clareville, and who saw two men acting suspiciously to ring Mountjoy Station at 01-6668600.

Neighbours yesterday wondered if Mr Mitchell John would feel secure enough to go back to his flat, where he has lived for more than 15 years or if he will be able to live on his own again.