They entered the home to see Edward lying dead, his head resting on the settee.

At that point it is understood that Bernard O’Hare (81) said to the gang, “You’ve killed my brother.”

A struggle then ensued between the brothers and the gang members, before the gang fled.

Two of the brothers were treated in hospital but were later released while the third was treated by a doctor at the scene. They were not seriously injured.

Edward had a heart condition and was only released from hospital following treatment earlier this week.

He is survived by his brothers John, Bernard, Thomas, Patsy and Gerald and by his sister May.

Local councillor, Wilfred McFadden has known the O’Hare family all his life, and he and his wife called with them on Sunday afternoon.

He said that they were “shook and dazed”, and added: “They couldn’t understand why they were singled out.

“People like them don’t understand how anyone could do something like that to somebody.

“They would harm no-one, and would go out of their way to help anyone, and that’s the way they live their lives.”

Councillor McFadden called the incident a “terrible tragedy”, and said he offered the family his sympathy and condolences.

“This is a hardworking family who would offend no-one. They have lived in the area all their lives and it is absolutely deplorable that anyone could stoop to such tactics.”

Upper Bann MP David Trimble described the events of Saturday night as “atrocious”.

He stated: “First and foremost, I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to the O’Hare family, who must be devastated by what has happened.

“Yet again, the need for a ‘zero tolerance’ approach by the authorities in dealing with such people has been emphasised in the most horrendous fashion.

“Stringent action must be taken by the police and the courts to bring the people responsible for this heinous crime to justice.”

Newry and Mourne District councillor PJ Bradley appealed to the robbers to turn themselves in.

“Across Northern Ireland there is a community of senior citizens living in fear that an incident such as the one that took place in Glenn on Saturday night last was inevitably going to happen,” he said.

“I would appeal to anyone with the slightest morsel of information regarding the incident, or of anything they noted of a suspicious nature in the area on Saturday evening, to make the information available immediately to the Police Service.

“Their information may prevent a repeat occurrence of the Glenn incident Also, for what it is worth, I ask each individual member of the gang involved to make a conscientious decision to give themselves over to the Police, because individually each has a responsibility in the matter.”

The police are currently treating the incident as aggravated burglary, but further charges could follow once the results of a post-mortem examination are known.

Superintendent Mervyn Waddell said that police were doing their utmost to track down the gang.

“Detectives are conducting house to house enquiries, a considerable effort is being placed in the detailed forensic examination of Mr O’Hare’s home,” he said.

He added that a team of detectives had been assigned to the case.

Chief Inspector Stephen Day believes the robbers may have been in the area before.

“We understand there have been people operating in this area who may have been targeting houses,” he said.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police in Banbridge on 028 406 62222.

Police are looking to hear from anyone who saw people or vehicles in the Tullymore area of Loughbrickland, between just before 7.00pm and after 8.10pm on Saturday evening.

If anyone had strangers call in previous weeks or days, or if they saw any vehicles they thought looked out of place in the locality, they should also get in touch with detectives.

A WOMAN who lives in Kilkeel, was at her dying mother’s bedside in hospital on Sunday night, while her own family home was ransacked by burglars.

Elizabeth Cox, her husband Victor and 15 year-old daughter Vicki-Ann, had been at Downe Hospital in Downpatrick, where Elizabeth’s mother, Marita Campbell died late on Sunday night from heart failure.

When the Cox family returned to their Hillside Drive home in Kilkeel at around 2.30am on Monday morning, they found that the house had been broken into and ransacked.

“As soon as I got in I knew something had happened, things were lying out of the cupboard,” said Victor.

“I’m really angry. These people should be caught and prosecuted,” he added.

He said that his wife Elizabeth was “very upset” following the death of her mother, and that the burglary had been another unwanted shock.

“It wasn’t a nice experience. We were pretty upset after the death and we were even more upset when we returned home.”

A number of items were stolen from the house during the burglary, including several items of jewellery such as watches, necklaces and rings.

The whole house was ransacked and a television meter was smashed open. A sum of cash was stolen from the meter and a cheque book was also taken.

A hammer was discovered at the house which was used to gain entry through a back kitchen window.

Elizabeth, originally from Downpatrick, and her husband and daughter have been living in Kilkeel for the past five months.

The family had left the house at Hillside Drive at around 5.45pm on Sunday for Downe Hospital, where Mrs Campbell had been admitted on Saturday, November 1.

Mrs Campbell (née Fitzpatrick) had previously been staying at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where she had her leg amputated nine weeks ago.
She was subsequently brought to Lecale Lodge Nursing Home, before being forced to return to hospital.

She was laid to rest yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. Her remains left her son’s residence in Knocknashinna and funeral mass took place at St Patrick’s Church, followed by burial in Struell Cemetery.

Anyone with information regarding the burglary at Hillside Drive should contact police in Kilkeel on 028 417 62222.

IT WAS a proud and momentous occasion for Kilkeel Development Association (KDA) last week with the launch of a new strategic regeneration and development plan.

The plan marks another milestone in the achievements of the KDA over the past twelve years, with a total of sixteen core socio-economic projects requiring investment of £3.5 million over the next four years.

The Phase III Strategic Regeneration and Development Plan was launched at the Kilmorey Arms Hotel last week, and community, statutory and private sector representatives were in attendance.

Irene Adair MBE, Chairperson of the KDA, stated at the launch: "Our Phase III Plan builds on the strategic work already completed to date, and puts forward a further 16 projects under five regeneration themes of Business and Training, Tourism, Environment, Harbour and Fisheries and Community Development and Events.

"The multi-faceted Plan will see a further £3.5 million invested into Kilkeel over the next four years, creating jobs and training opportunities, facilitating tourism development and improving the local physical environment."

At the launch, Noreen Kettlyles, Chief Executive of the KDA, announced that to date £1.7 million of the investment required for projects within the Plan had been secured.

Over the next year Kilkeel will see a major Workspace Project commence, new branding at the Kilkeel TIC, a second tourism training programme, another Festival of Fish, and twining visits to European countries.

Irene Adair concluded: "It is a very positive time for Kilkeel. There are many private sector plans for the town and these, coupled with consolidation within the fishing industry, our alternative economic initiatives, and the work of the many local social groups, will ensure a very bright future for our community."

LICENSED traders and local police are coming together in Newry today (Wednesday) to help find a solution to combat underage drinking.

Newry licensees have been invited to attend Ardmore Police Station at 10.00am this morning to discuss ways of tackling the problem in the city.

Around twenty licensees are expected to hear a range of speakers on the subject, such as Nicola Jameson, Chief Executive of the Federation of Retail Licensed Trade; Kieran Devlin, Health Promotion Manager with Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust and Leo Foy, Newry and Mourne Drug/Alcohol Partnership.

A representative from 'Don't Blow It', a local grouping fighting drink and drugs amongst young people, will also be present.

PSNI Inspector Glynn Shotton will give a presentation on the law in relation to young people and alcohol, and will make proposals to tackle the problem.

Local Youth Diversion Officer, Constable Gemma Lappin, will address the group to discuss the scale of the issue and talk about her role once police make the initial detection for underage drinking.

Constable Terry Mulholland, Crime Prevention, will also speak to the traders.

"The main aim of the meeting is to heighten awareness and to identify how to combat the problem of underage drinking," said Inspector Glynn Shotton, ahead of today's meeting.

Inspector Shotton said the gathering would "not be a finger-pointing exercise", instead focusing on the need to come up with a "tougher policy" to fight the problem.

"I will propose to the traders at the meeting that we adopt a '21 and under' policy, whereby if someone buying alcohol does not look 21 years old then that person will be asked to produce proof of identity," said Inspector Shotton.

"If the licensees are in agreement, then signs will be displayed to that effect in licensed premises."

He said that the PSNI and the traders were the main players in tackling underage drinking, but that parents have a responsibility to play their part also.
Youth Diversion Officer, Constable Gemma Lappin, conceded that the instances of underage drinking in Newry is a worry.

"There is no doubt it is a problem," she said.

"The public are always complaining about it, and there are several reasons behind it. There are adults who purchase alcohol for young people for one, and then there is the high number of alcopops, which are so easy to drink.

"Ten years ago, if a young person started drinking, there was perhaps only wine or cider, which are hard to drink. But today these alcopops are much easier to drink, and young people drink them without realising the high alcoholic content," she said.

POLICE in Banbridge have launched a campaign to help prevent car crime, following an apparent increase in vehicle crime in the area this year.

The shocking statistics show that, on average, one vehicle is stolen every week in Banbridge district. The campaign began last Wednesday when police began handing out leaflets offering crime prevention advice to help protect your vehicle.

Car crime can be prevented through a number of ways, but the most important of all is checking that the vehicle is locked with the ignition keys removed.
This may seem obvious, but all to often, vehicles are stolen by a car thief simply climbing into the vehicle, locating the keys under the drivers floor mat or behind the sun visor, and driving off.

Drivers should remember to ALWAYS lock all doors and close all windows when you leave the vehicle, even if only for a short period of time. NEVER leave your keys in an unattended vehicle.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sam Dickson said : "This initiative was to advise members of the public about crime prevention and how they can help reduce the number of car thefts in the Banbridge District.

DISTRESSING
"Car crime can not only be very distressing but also cause a great deal of inconvenience - leaving you with no means of transport for work", he added.

Police have also noticed an increase in the number of vehicles being stolen from outside people’s homes overnight, using their own keys.

This is known as a 'Creeper' burglary where recent improvements in car security mean that the easiest way for a thief to steal a car now is to actually break into your house and steal the keys for it. Burglars and thieves are now targeting and burgling houses with cars in the driveways or even in the garage.

Police advise that members of the public should secure their house, not only when it is unoccupied but also when they are in it at night, to counter this threat.

Police would also advise you to put your keys out of sight and, if possible, in a secure place. DO NOT leave your keys on open view in the kitchen or on the hall table or with the house keys hanging inside the front or back door. Imagine the value of your car in cash - you would NEVER leave that amount of money lying around in your home unguarded, yet your car keys are essentially worth that value if your vehicle is stolen.
Further information on car safety can be obtained from the Crime Prevention Office in Banbridge on 028 406 62222.