Boiling water was thrown over an elderly man during a raid by three masked men early on Sunday morning near Coole village, between Edgeworths town and Granard, Co Longford. The raiders forced their way into the house at about 3 a.m. and beat the man, aged 67, around the head with a baseball bat.
When the victim, who has not been named by gardai, refused to give them money, they threw boiling water over his head and shoulders, burning him severely. They ransacked the house before making off with a small sum of money in the victim's van, which was later found abandoned at Lake Derravaragh.
Gardai at Granard believe the attack may be related to a similar one on a Dublin family at Collinstown near Mullingar early the previous Sunday. The number of Granard Garda station is 043-86512.