A woman held at knifepoint with her brother in Gurranabraher says it was a terrifying ordeal.
Gerry O'Halloran was held at knifepoint yesterday morning just after 7.30am by a male intruder, with his sister Mary also threatened at knife point when she arrived on the scene to call to visit her brother, in an ordeal that lasted over an hour.
The man fled on foot with a sum of money - Gardai are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021 4946200.
Speaking on the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's RedFM show this morning, Mary says she and her brother were terrified.
"I couldn't open the door, and I shouted in to Gerry 'is something wrong?', says he 'get the Guards', says I 'for what?', says he 'I'm getting attacked here'.
"He was shaking. The fella then opened the door and he shoved me in. Says he 'I want all your money'. He took €800 off my brother and €1,000 off me.
"He had a big knife. He cut the corner of my fingers.
"He cut the phone, and he took all the bulbs out. He took all my brother's food out of the cupboards and drawers.
"He was nearly an hour there. We didn't want to give him the money. He had the knife up to us, up to our throats. We couldn't do anything.
"He ran away then. Gerry's home help was coming in and she phoned the Guards then.
"He had a black cap, and a black mask, and a navy top, a grey tracksuit pants."
Over €25,000 has been raised for Gerry and Mary following the ordeal.
The paramedics who treated Gerry and Mary at the scene, Keith Harrington and Sean Healy, set up the GoFundMe afterwards.
The target was initially €2,000 to replace the money taken by the intruder, however over €25,000 has been raised in 24 hours.
