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Call for elderly task force
BBC News
November 19, 2003
Margaret Curlett and
Kathleen Rainey: Concerned about pensions
Billy Kane said elderly must come together to
fight for their rights
Northern Ireland's chief constable has been urged to set up a task force to track down robbers who prey on the elderly.
The call was made during a senior citizens' rally in Belfast which heard criticism of the police and political parties for failing to do enough to support vulnerable old people.
Wednesday's rally was organized by the Transport and General Workers' Union following the murder of elderly farmer Ted O'Hare during a robbery at his home in Loughbrickland last weekend.
There has been a spate of break-ins at the homes of elderly people in the province, during which some of them have been attacked.
The police said in a statement that they would "endeavour to give all available resources to combating such crimes and bringing the perpetrators before the courts".
Retired union official Eugene O'Callaghan told the rally that Chief Constable Hugh Orde should direct police resources in a way that would benefit pensioners.
He said: "An often repeated excuse for lack of success in apprehending the perpetrators of these ghastly crimes is lack of manpower.
"Yet, when it comes to road traffic matters there seems to be an abundance of manpower. Surely the chief constable has got his priorities wrong."
He spoke about the "terror of old people, the trauma that lives long after an assault, when every knock at the door brings back that terror and a feeling of helplessness that no one cares".
He added: "Politicians will be judged on what they deliver or fail to deliver."
Billy Kane of the TGWU's pensioners' committee said: "When a house is broken into in Turf Lodge or Tullycarnet all of the pensioners in the area are scared."
And he urged the elderly to rally together to press for issues relevant to them, such as the attacks, the issue of pensions and free personal care.
George Cassidy, 67, of Dundonald said he had attended because he was upset at the way senior citizens were being treated.
"The law is not looking after pensioners," he said. "There are too many issues: housing, benefits, social issues - the way homes are being closed down because of the economy."
Dorothy Hanna, 64, from Belfast, a member of the National Federation of Post Office and BT pensioners, said people were afraid.
"When you buy your newspaper and you see a photo of a woman of 75 who was so badly beaten during a robbery that she almost lost the sight of her eye, and it's left her so traumatised that she can't go out, people are bound to be very much afraid," she said.
Margaret Curlett and Kathleen Rainey, both 70, travelled from Antrim for the rally.
"I am lucky enough that my husband is still living, but you still worry that someone will get into your home," said Kathleen.
On the issue of pensions, the two women feel that their pensions do not reflect their years of work in a hospital.
The rally was also addressed by representatives from many of the political parties including the DUP, UUP, SDLP, Women's Coalition, Alliance and Sinn Fein.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive gave advice on home protection and Help the Aged said elderly issues should be addressed in any new assembly.
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© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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