Elderly brothers beaten in home

SENIOR gardaí last night warned people about allowing strangers into their homes, following the vicious robbery and beating of two elderly brothers at their home on Valentia Island, Co Kerry.

Bachelors Jimmy and Neilly Sugrue, retired farmers in their early 80s, were recovering in hospitals in Caherciveen and Tralee yesterday, as an investigation got under way.

Four men, thought to be in their 20s broke into their home, beat them and tied them up before getting away with a “substantial” amount of money, according to gardaí. Supt Pat Sullivan, Caherciveen, who is heading the investigation, said the brothers were shocked and traumatised after their terrifying ordeal.

“This was a despicable crime on two elderly people living on their own.

“We’re advising people not to allow strangers into their homes without some form of identification. If they see anything suspicious they should immediately contact the gardaí, he said.

The raiders, wearing facial disguises, burst into the brothers’ farmhouse at Corobeg Upper, Valentia, just off the main road, sometime between 1am and 4am yesterday.

A man asleep downstairs was the first to be attacked. He was gagged and beaten and the raiders then went upstairs where they tied up the second brother who was also badly beaten.

Gardai believe a telephone in the house had been disconnected. The brothers eventually freed themselves and went to a neighbour’s house where the alarm was raised.