Keep up with Armagh i

Christmas donation money stolen from Armagh business and owner’s elderly parents’ home burgled

An Armagh business owner and charity fundraiser had his business and elderly parents’ home burgled on Thursday night.

A sum of cash, which included Christmas donation money, was stolen from the safe at MT Waste – the business behind the popular Skip Car Tour.

Owner Sean McArdle shared the news on social media to alert the community of the “evil, cowardly people” operating in the area.

“Unfortunately, it saddens me to write this, however, I feel that the community should be made aware that [on Thursday] night under the cover of darkness, evil, cowardly people robbed from my business,” said Mr McArdle.

“Along with a number of items, cash was stolen from the office safe; some of this included donation money (though thankfully not all) which was donated to the Clady Santa Village Drive-Thru currently ran by my son and his wife, where donations are going to Children’s Heartbeat Trust.”

He added: “This is bad enough, but to add to this they also broke into my elderly and ill parents home and stole from them, taking keys of two vehicles outside – they also stole and made off with them.”

Mr McArdle said the incidents have caused “great anguish to our family, to two already ill people and also to my sister, who is not only their main carer, but also a key worker working for the NHS through the current pandemic”.

“She has suffered not only having intruders in her home but also the theft of her car. As a family we are both saddened and disgusted that this could happen, impacting not just ourselves and our parents but also the children’s charity.

“We ask that the rest of the community remain vigilant and if anyone has any information on anything suspicious they may have saw or heard throughout late on Thursday night / early hours of Friday morning please get in contact.”

Meanwhile, community group – CREATE – in Portadown say an elderly woman arrived back to her home in Corcrain on Friday night to find it ransacked.

“This is disgusting behaviour from the most scumbag vermin people who prey on the elderly,” the group posted.
“Please keep all doors and windows locked; in this case they were, however the window was jemmied open.
“The PSNI have been contacted. Report anything suspicious to 101 or alternatively call 999.”

Local jobs

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Most read today

Christmas wishes from SRC

Operator’s Licence Notice

More in Armagh