‘OAP terror gang pose as salesmen’

A GANG suspected of the latest attacks on pensioners had pretended to be selling household goods, gardai believe.

The burglars — thought to have crossed the Border from Derry — struck twice in Co Donegal on Tuesday evening, terrifying their elderly victims.

In the first attack, John Gallagher, 65, had his home near Buncrana ransacked before he was locked into a shed.

The five-man gang then beat up an 80-year-old woman at her home near Muff before leaving the scene in a blue or grey Proton car.

Garda Inspector David Murphy said both victims had received calls to their homes in the afternoon before the attack by people claiming to be selling household goods.

He said: “We believe there could be a link as both people received calls from people claiming to be selling household goods.

“One of these was a woman with short brown hair and they were in a car with the same description as we believe was involved in both crimes.

“We would ask the public who may also have received a call from these people to contact us.”

The latest raids on pensioners brings to more than 15 the number of raids across Donegal in the past two weeks.

On Monday, farmers Jim and Eric Steele gave chase to the four-man gang who broke into their home in Manorcunningham, Co Donegal.

And last week, a three-man gang raided 86-year-old Maureen Kelly’s home in Convoy while 76-year-old Phyllis McGee was knocked to the floor as thugs robbed her home for the second time in two months.

Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty yesterday called on Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to do more to prevent further attacks.

He said: “Whatever approach the Gardai are taking is simply not working and yet another two burglaries by a gang from across the Border last night is proof of that.

“Garda management have serious questions to answer. At this stage the people of Donegal are entitled to answers.

“I am not advocating closing the borders because we have excellent relationships with the public in Derry but we need to man those borders now.”

He called on Justice Minister Alan Shatter to examine the possibility of setting up a taskforce to tackle crime along the Border.