An elderly nun who was held captive in her convent room as raiders ransacked her belongings is recovering from her ordeal.The nun, in her 70s, was subjected to terrifying threats when thieves broke into her room two weeks ago.
She was in her room at St Michael's Loreto Convent at Athlumney, Navan, when the incident happened at 9.15pm on a Tuesday night.
The two raiders burst into the room, pushed her and restrained her as they searched for valuables.
They finally left with just a few euro. The victim was uninjured but badly traumatised.
Gardai said they are examining security video footage in a bid to identify the two culprits.
They are now looking at the possibility that the raiders may have been given free charity meals at the Navan convent in the past.
Local sources believe down-and-outs who were fed by the Loreto sisters might have returned and carried out the robbery.
The sources say the nuns are famous for their charity acts in the community and this could have made the premises a target.
A Navan town councillor described it as "an attack on a defenceless elderly nun for the sake of a handful of euro".
Gardai believe the men first broke into the adjacent St Michael's Secondary School and made their way from there into the convent building.
Cllr Christopher Reilly (FF) said: "An attack like this on a defenceless elderly nun for the sake of a handful of euro is beyond the pale."
He added that he was heartened to see gardai had increased their surveillance in the area.
Charitable
Locals said the nuns were well-known for charitable gestures such as feeding the less fortunate at their convent.
"The convent is a bit off the beaten track and this was probably someone who had been out on the premises previously," said a local. "Maybe guys who went along saw the set-up and thought it was an easy target."
No description of the nun's assailants has yet been issued.
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(Source: EH)