Woman held at knife-point in cemetery robbed of €100
By Laura Lyne
FAMILIES visiting graves of their loved ones at Bohernabreena Cemetery have been warned to be vigilant and not visit the cemetery alone, after an elderly woman in her 60s was held at knife-point on Friday for a small sum of cash.
The woman, who does not live in Dublin and wishes to remain anonymous, was visiting the grave of a family member during a visit to the county when she was approached by two young women and two children who held her to ransom.
Her daughter has since warned families online to be extra safe when visiting the cemetery, and has said that her mother is “very shaken up”.
Speaking to The Echo, she said: “My mother was at the grave, cleaning away, when two children approached her saying nanny, nanny.
“She said she wasn’t their nanny and then two girls no older than 17 or 18 appeared.
“My mother was in too much shock to tell me how, but they ended up at her car and then they held a knife to her while the children searched the car, throwing everything to the ground.
“They kept asking about a handbag, but she couldn’t remember if she had brought one. They eventually found it in the boot and took €100 – there was sat navs and phones in the car, but all they wanted was the cash.
“While this was all happening there were two people walking down the hill, but my mother was told that if she said anything they would stab her.
“She’s very shaken up. She didn’t report it to the gardaí until she drove home, she was so terrified that they would see her on the phone.
We’ve been going to Bohernabreena cemetery for 30 years and we’ve never had anything like that happen before.”
Funding for CCTV at Bohernabreena Cemetery was approved last year following a campaign by bereaved families who visit the cemetery on a regular basis, following a spate of vandalism, car break-ins and thefts from graves.
The funding was approved with the help of Sinn Féin councillor Cathal King, who called the attack on Friday “despicable”.
Cllr King said: “This incident is more worrying then previous ones, it’s despicable. I’d encourage people to avoid being up there on their own.
“To know that an elderly lady from another county was up visiting a grave and that she was attacked like that, there wasn’t any need for it.
“The funding for CCTV for Bohernabreena Cemetery is available and the tender is currently being prepared, with the cameras due to be installed within the next couple of months, with the aim to making it safer for families.”
A spokesperson from the Garda Press Office told The Echo: “Gardaí at Tallaght are investigating an incident of robbery from the person which occurred on March 11 at Bohernabrenna Graveyard, Tallaght at approximately 2.30pm.
“The injured party (female, mid 60s) was approached by two females, who took a sum of money and then left the scene in a gold-coloured vehicle.”
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact Tallaght Garda Station at 01 6666000.
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