GARDAI in Limerick are advising grieving families to be extra vigilant following the ransacking of a home in the city while family members were at their father’s funeral.
The Walsh family returned to scenes of ‘absolute destruction’ at their O’Connell Avenue home after the funeral of 84-year-old business man Josie Walsh, who was owner of the Crescent Garage on Alphonsus Street and died suddenly on March 4.
Following Requiem Mass at the Dominican Church in Pery Square, the family travelled to St Jerome Crematorium in Dublin as it was the late Mr Walsh’s wish to be cremated.
When they returned from the funeral, his widow Geraldine and her two children Rose (26), and Adam (18) found that their home had been ransacked. Doors were ripped from their hinges, cabinets and drawers smashed, insulation ripped out of the attic and, worst of all, was the wanton destruction of Josie’s bedroom.
Personal belongings that held huge sentimental value for his wife and children were also stolen.
“My father died at home in his own bed. He was a very neat man and liked to keep everything tidy. He loved his home and we made sure to leave it how he always liked it when we left for the funeral.When we came back, it was the most destroyed room in the house. Wardrobes were smashed, drawers and their contents were thrown everywhere and his bed and mattress were ripped apart,” Josie’s daughter Rose told the Limerick Post.
“Our home will never feel the same again and my mother is too frightened to go back there. She doesn’t feel safe in the house we lived in for 23 years. Our house is just a shell now, it has been totally violated. It held so many memories and it will never feel the same again. The place is in wreck and ruin,” she said.
The Walsh family believe the burglars were in their home for six to seven hours. Among the possessions stolen were all Geraldine’s jewellery including items her husband had bought her before his death.
“Josie didn’t have much jewellery himself but they took whatever pieces he had and we would do anything to get them back as they have huge significance to the his children,” said Rose’s longterm boyfriend, Patrick Dundon.
“To see Josie’s wife on her knees in anguish at the destruction of her home after the loss of her husband was simply heartbreaking. His family didn’t even have time to grieve,” Patrick added.
Rose warned that thieves are specifically targeting grieving families through the death notices and online. She urged families to be more security conscious, particularly during funerals.
“People keep calling the criminals who did this, animals, but an animal wouldn’t do this. These people are just monsters, that’s the only word for them. This is happening to old people who are too frightened to report it.
We feel it is very important that people are aware these crimes are being carried out. We will not stand for what these monsters did to us and the people of Limerick won’t stand for it either. By highlighting it we feel we’ve already triumphed,” said Ms Walsh.
Josie’s wife Geraldine has been staying in a hotel in the city since returning from the funeral over two weeks ago as she is now too frightened to stay in her own home.
Gardaí at Roxboro are investigating the crime and acting Superintendent, Inspector Brendan McDonagh advised people to have someone stay in their homes during funerals as criminals could access details on their mobile phones.
The Walsh family are asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the O’Connell Avenue area between March 6 and 9, to ring the Garda Confidential telephone number 1800 666 111 or Roxboro Garda station on 061-214340.
