A MAN has been arrested in relation to a burglary on a 90-year-old woman.

The suspect (36), who has a long list of previous convictions, was still being questioned last night over the incident.

He is said to have called at the woman’s door on Cowper Road, Rathmines, at around 6.45pm before pushing her into her living room when she answered.

“He threatened her and demanded cash from her – the lady was absolutely terrified,” a garda source said.

“This is a big, scary-looking individual and he put the fear of God into that poor lady.”

The raider, who acted alone, took a small quantity of cash from the woman's purse, before going upstairs and ransacking the bedrooms.

He returned downstairs, threatened the woman and removed her watch and two rings from her fingers.

The burglar then fled the scene with the items, which have not been returned.

While the pensioner was not physically hurt, she was left extremely traumatised.

“This was a despicable and cowardly crime, but we’re satisfied the chief suspect is now in custody,” the source said.

The Herald understands |that the victim was able to give gardai a good description of |the culprit, and that CCTV |also played an important part in the investigation.

The suspect is a member of the Traveller community. He currently lives in Co Westmeath, but also has links to the west of Ireland and the capital.

He has multiple previous convictions for offences such as burglary and fraud, as well as driving offences.

attacked

Garda sources said that |the Rathmines incident on |October 30 was not linked to a similar aggravated burglary in nearby Crumlin just two nights earlier on October 28.

The second burglary saw an 84-year-old woman attacked as she was in her bed at her home on Cashel Road.

The victim, who was asleep when the raid started, was set upon by an intruder who stormed into the room and pulled her out of the bed.

The burglar threatened the terrified woman before pulling a chain from her neck and rings from her fingers. He then |proceeded to ransack the lady's bedroom before fleeing the property on foot.

Herald