Grandad who died in burglary ‘was plagued by gang of yobs’
A PENSIONER who collapsed and died when he confronted intruders had been plagued by anti-social youths, said neighbours.
Patrick Marron, 80, fitted security cameras and put up signs warning of dangerous dogs after gangs gathered outside his house every day.
The widower died on Saturday, after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home of 46 years.
Cambridgeshire Police arrested a 20-year-old man and three schoolgirls aged 12, 14 and 16 on suspicion of murder.
The man and youngest girl have since been released and are no longer under investigation.
The other girls have been bailed until October 25. Locals said a hammer was found in bushes near the scene, but police declined to comment.
Neighbours told how Pat – whose wife Anne died of cancer three years ago – had “suffered in silence” after groups of local teens regularly met outside his semi-detached home in Wisbech, Cambs.
One said: “They were there every day and every night. They would throw things over Pat’s fence. There’s nobody doing anything to stop them.
“I saw two with hammers and crowbars walking up the road a couple of weeks ago, threatening other kids. They are out of control.” Thomas McCartney, who is married to Pat’s niece Trisha, told how the former road maintenance worker was “not the sort of man to complain”.
However, he insisted Pat, originally from Carrickfergus, County Monaghan, would not allow himself to be intimidated.
Mr McCartney said: “All we know is that he was followed into the house and there was a bit of a scuffle.
“Pat would stand up for himself, without a doubt. He wouldn’t take any nonsense with people coming into the house.”
A post-mortem examination is due to take place today to establish the cause of his death.