Man is charged after disabled woman is left traumatised by burglary

27-YEAR-old man is due to appear in court today after a weekend burglary in Co Tyrone that left a severely disabled woman “deeply traumatised”.

Police are investigating the incident which occurred in Dungannon at around 8.20pm on Saturday night.

A man gained entry to the woman’s house and ransacked her bedroom before taking a sum of money and her mobile phone.

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: “The sole occupant of the house, a woman with severe physical disabilities, reported that a man had entered her bedroom.

“The suspect, described as 5ft tall, aged in his 30s, with a full bushy beard and wearing a lightweight jacket and denim jeans, ransacked bedroom furniture, taking a sum of money and her mobile phone.

“He also searched other rooms in the house before fleeing through a window.”

A man matching the description of the suspect was arrested a short time later in the Market Square area of the town on suspicion of burglary and the property was seized by police.

He was later charged in relation to the incident and is expected to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court this morning. Police have expressed their disgust at what happened.

“This was a despicable act, which must have been frightening for the victim who was not only vulnerable but also completely helpless,” Mr Stevenson said.

“While not physically injured she has been left deeply trauma- tised by this horrific ordeal.”

Dungannon DUP councillor Kim Ashton expressed her shock at the details of the burglary and said the woman involved has been left distraught.

“The detail of this burglary is very alarming. I have spoken with the PSNI who have acted very swiftly in making an arrest,” she added.

Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Rosemary Barton said her thoughts were with the victim and her family.

She said: “The ransacking of a home and the stealing of cash belonging to a lady living on her own can only be described as an act of depravity.

“This lady, who also has severe disabilities, I understand has been left severely traumatised by this whole despicable act and now has the anguish of clearing up the mess left behind by this burglar who entered a number of rooms in her home.

“Nobody in our supposed civilised society should have to sufA fer the indignity of an intruder entering their bedroom or other rooms in their home. This was a hideous crime on a defenceless woman,” she added.

Meanwhile police believe a series of burglaries which took place in south Armagh on Friday are linked. Three houses in Crossmaglen, two in Chapel View and one on Newry Road and one on the Camlough Road in Newry were targeted.

Three men were also disturbed at a house in St Patrick’s Park in Camlough at around 8pm by a member of the public. They fled the house and made off from the area in a black coloured Audi A6 car.

Police said a similar black coloured car was observed in the vicinity of other burglaries and are appealing for information.

❝ The ransacking of a home of a lady living on her own can only be described as an act of depravity