The scene of the carjacking at Argyle House, Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron

A WOMAN was knocked unconscious when she tried to stop her car from being stolen outside her home.

Liz Turley (59) is in a serious condition in hospital from the assault which occurred when she returned to Dublin after spending Easter weekend with her family.

The senior librarian was at the gates of her Argyle House apartment complex, on Claremont Road, in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, when two carjackers struck yesterday.

At around 1.50pm, the victim was entering the code for the electric gates to the complex into the keypad and had left her car, a grey 2003-registered Ford Focus, running.

As she was doing this a man and woman, both thought to be aged in their 20s, jumped into the car and reversed it away from the gate.

KERB

Ms Turley approached the driver's side of the door but was pushed away aggressively by the man. She fell and hit her head on the kerb.

A fellow resident of the complex was first at the scene.

He told the Irish Independent how Ms Turley was unconscious for a period of time and could not remember her name when she came around.

"I immediately called the ambulance and the gardai. She was knocked out. She slowly began to come to, but she couldn't remember her name.

"When the ambulance came, she was taken away in a neck brace," he said.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said that there was "nothing distinctive" about the look of the two culprits. Neither covered their face during the carjacking.

He believed that they were looking for a car, had watched the area and deliberately targeted a woman on her own. The stolen car was driven off towards Merrion Road.

Gardai confirmed on Tuesday morning that the car has been located.

The Ford Focus was found in the Kevin Street area of Dublin

"There have been no arrests in relation to this incident. Investigations are ongoing and witnesses to the incident or anyone with information are asked to contact Irishtown Garda Station on 01 - 666 9600," a spokesman said.

"The injured lady remains in a stable condition."

The area where the car was taken is one of the most affluent in Dublin and residents were shocked to hear about what happened.

However, one local recalled an incident last May when two men tried to break into the Argyle House building where Ms Turley lives.

"I saw two shadows. When I looked out they had a crowbar and they were trying to break into the front door. When I looked around they ran away. It was just over a year ago."

He said that at the time of the attempted break-in, the gate for the pedestrian entrance into the complex was broken.

Ms Turley, who is a director on the board of management for the apartments, had expressed how she felt "much safer" since the gate was recently fixed.

"She had actually said that she felt safer. The front door was broken for a long time after that and we had to use the fire exit to get in and out," he explained.

Ms Turley lived alone in the apartment and was described as a "lovely woman".

She was brought to St Vincent's Hospital.

Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact Irishtown garda station on (01) 666 9600.

Irish Independent