Woman(82) mugged on way home from Mass

GARDAÍ LOOKING FOR SLIM MAN IN 20s WHO FLED AFTER ATTACK

AN 82-year-old New Ross woman was set upon, knocked to the ground and robbed in the town centre on Saturday night, having attended Mass.

The woman, who is recovering after the terrifying attack, was walking down Cross Street at around 7 p.m. after attending 6 p.m. Vigil Mass at St Mary & St Michael’s Parish Church when a lone male, wearing a pink or purple top, approached her.

He knocked her to the ground and grabbed her handbag from her hand before running off in the direction of South Street.

Two men who happened to be walking near the scene of the crime assisted the woman to her feet and helped her home.

Sergeant Eddie Wilde said: ‘It was a very traumatising and upsetting thing to happen to anybody, especially a woman in her eighties. It is very sad to see in New Ross. It hasn’t happened in a long time and we wouldn’t like to see it slipping back in again. We are treating this crime with the utmost seriousness.’

Sgt Wilde said gardaí would like to speak with the two men who helped the woman.

He said a full investigation is under way into the cowardly attack.

Sgt Wilde said: ‘We are looking for any information on this man who is in his twenties and is of slim build.’

Anyone with information on the attack can contact Sgt Wilde and New Ross gardaí on 051 426030.