Woman (83) fighting for life after burglary
A GRANDMOTHER is fighting for her life after a violent and “depraved” burglary in her home left her with a fractured spine, skull and pelvis.
Pat Davidson (83) was left for dead in the garden of her house on Sydney Road, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, by four intruders on Tuesday night.
Police said a local man had disturbed four males in the property around 9pm before he found Ms Davidson lying outside beneath an upstairs open window.
Ambulance crews treated her in the garden before taking her to hospital.
Police are treating the incident as attempted murder and believe it may be linked to three other robberies that day in Aughnacloy, Ballygawley and Seskinore. A black car was seen leaving Sydney Road following the incident , with a similar vehicle also seen at two of the other burglaries.
Ms Davidson is a respected member of Aughnacloy Presbyterian Church and runs a poultry business from her back garden.
The church’s minister, Rev Ian McKee, said the community was “shocked and sickened” by the cowardly robbery.
“This is a very godly lady in her 80s, nobody deserves anything like this,” he said.
“I visited her in intensive care and she has a long road ahead of her. I think everybody is reeling from what happened.
“Her husband (Billy) died 15 years ago and her two boys, Jonathan and Wesley, came up through the church as well.
“She’s very well known and respected in the community and she was still very active at her age in looking after her poultry business.”
He added: “I spoke to one of her sons and it’s very hard for them to come to terms with.
“We want to be very positive and are praying hard for her and the family.
“It just beggars belief that someone would do something like this to anybody, but especially to an elderly lady.
“I just hope that in time they will see the error of their ways. Sadly, attacks on pensioners are all too common.”