GARDAÍ HUNTING THE killer or killers of a Limerick pensioner have advised elderly people in the wider community to acquire personal safety alarms to help them deal with a growing sense of fear in the wider local community.
The body of Rosie Hanrahan, aged 78, was found in her home at New Road Thomondgate in Limerick last Friday.
No arrests have yet been made however all available garda resources are working around the clock to bring those responsible to justice.
Gardaí said they were not releasing the results of Hanrahan’s postmortem for “operational reasons”.
Hanrahan’s terraced home remained sealed off by gardaí for the fifth consecutive day as forensic officers and a DNA scientist combed the property for clues.
A shrine of floral tributes and candles left outside the bungalow by the community is growing day by day. A prayer vigil is also being planned for later in the week.
Sergeant Ber Leetch, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station, acknowledged the community was fearful.
She said that “elderly alert bracelets or pendants” were freely available via the Pobal website.
“If you log onto the Pobal website [you] can find out how to apply for a free monitored personal alarm, all you have to be to qualify is over 65 years of age,” Sergeant Leetch said.
“The first year of monitoring is free and the subsequent years’ cost is €66.”
I think that this would be a fantastic Christmas present as it would give great peace of mind to anybody living alone both for their safety and for their security.
Sergeant Leetch agreed people in the wider community were afraid since last Friday’s shocking killing.
She also advised neighbours to look out for one another.
I agree that people are feeling vulnerable and afraid and with that in mind I went to the St Munchins Christmas party last Sunday and I spoke to a good few elderly people that live in the Thomondgate and surrounding areas.
I told them all to watch out for each other, to keep their homes secure by locking doors and closing windows and to use alarms if they have one.”
Sergeant Leetch advised elderly and vulnerable people: “Don’t open [your] door unless you know exactly who it is and why they need to enter your home.”
“If you feel alarmed, ring the Gardaí,” Leeth said.
Sergeant Leetch said she has “noticed a reluctance on the part of some elderly people to contact gardaí in case they were wasting their time”.
‘Sincere sympathy’
Sergeant Leetch offered her “sincere sympathy” to Rosie Hanrahan’s family, friends, and neighbours.
Gardaí are asking for anybody who was in the Thomondgate area between last Thursday, 14 December around 8pm and the afternoon of Friday, 15 December to think back and try and remember if they saw anything unusual or out of the ordinary or anybody who acted suspiciously.
People with dash cam footage are also being asked to come forward to gardaí.
Anyone with information can contact local gardaí can pass it on to the Garda Confidential phone line 1800 666 111.
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