Jim (left) and Eric Steele at their home this week.
By C.J.McGinley
“THEY’RE getting away with murder” said irate pensioner Jim Steele as he described how he fought off a gang of raiders at his home in Manorcunningham.
Brothers and well known local farmers Eric (69) and Jim (75), gave chase to a four-man gang who broke into their home on Main Street.
“It’s not on, these boys targeting old people in their homes,” Jim told the Donegal News at their home.
“The gang were in their 20-30s, but we weren’t afraid of them. We might be two old pensioners, but we’re far from done yet,” he added.
Eric and Jim were sitting at the fireside on Monday night when the raiders struck, just after the two brothers had spotted shadows in the kitchen.
“A friend of ours, Brian Gillen was in the house too.
We were waiting for another friend, Brian Ferry, to call. The next thing we heard was the door opening at the back kitchen.
The dog (Sheila) knew something was not right, because she sat back from the door and her ears were cocked up,” Jim said.
“I opened the door and one of the gang was just putting on his mask. I shouted to Eric, we had raiders and to get the gun.
I got a slap or two with the brush at him- he got a bleach or two in the guts and on the head as well.
“I made off after the raiders, and never let up but they ran to a getaway car and sped off.
I wasn’t one bit afraid of them, but if they had got us down on the floor, they might have tied us up,” he added.
Gardai are studying CCTV footage from nearby business premises in an effort to identify the attackers, but the Steele brothers are convinced the same gang was behind the attacks on two pensioners in the Buncrana-Muff areas on Tuesday night.
“It was the same boys, I’ve no doubt from what I hear,” Eric said.
“ They picked on the wrong men here. We might not be well all the time, but we’re certainly not done. We’re far from finished yet,” he added.
“It is crazy what is happening here in Donegal.
People are living in fear- but we won’t be intimated. Jim would have no hesitation using the gun.”
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