Police treating 'terrible ordeal' as attempted murder as man in his 70s is beaten with bats and has house set on fire
A man in his 70s has been attacked with bats and had accelerant poured over him in an incident which the police are treating as attempted murder.
Police said they were called to the man's home on the Clay Road in Keady, Co Armagh, at around 7.35pm on Thursday night.
It was reported that six masked men entered the man's living room and proceeded to attack him with the bats continuing the assault as he lay on the floor. One of the men ransacked the upstairs of the home while the attack was ongoing.
They then poured accelerant over him and around his home before sparking a fire. The injured man managed to run past his attackers, out of the burning building, and make it outside where he was attacked with bats again in the yard of the property.
It’s believed the suspects made their escape in a dark-coloured vehicle possibly an estate car.
The badly injured man then managed to make his way to the roadside and raise the alarm with a passing member of the public.
Despite officers and the NI Fire and Rescue Service attending, the home and the injured man’s vehicle were destroyed by fire.
Detective Inspector Moffett said: “This was a terrible ordeal for this man who was subjected to a savage beating and has now lost his home. He remains in hospital at this time for treatment to a range of injuries.
"We have launched our investigation and we are increasing our anti-burglary patrolling, particularly in our border areas, however we do also need the public’s help to prevent these crimes and to identify the people responsible for this heinous crime.
"If you captured CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or any footage in the Keady area on Thursday evening, please get in touch. Police can be reached any time by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress."
Information relating to these or any other crimes can also be online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/