Pensioner chased burglar away with a hatchet

A pensioner chased a burglar out of her home with a hatchet that she had brought to bed for protection.

Ann McFadden was at her home in Kilmacrennan, Co Donegal, when the incident took place.

Matthew Lafferty, aged 21, kicked in her bedroom door and said, “Don’t worry, it’s only Matthew.”

However, the 69-year-old chased Lafferty out of her home on Jan 18 last.

She called gardaí, giving them a description of Lafferty as well as the fact he identified himself by name.

Garda Brendan Roche went to Lafferty’s home just 1km away, at Ballykeeran, Kilmacrennan, and found Lafferty rummaging through Ms McFadden’s floral handbag.

He was arrested but could not be interviewed for hours because he was under the influence of intoxicants.

The court heard Lafferty is currently serving a five-year sentence for aggravated burglary. Judge O’Hagan sentenced Lafferty to three years on the charges of burglary and criminal damage, to run concurrently.