Community rallies to support burglary victims

CLIENTS at Whiteabbey Hospital’s day centre have done their bit to show it’s the season of goodwill by helping out an elderly brother and sister who were viciously attacked and robbed in their home last month.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Dec 2011, 06:00 BST

Colin Bell (72) and his 81-year-old sister, Eileen, were left penniless after a gang of men burst into their Abbeyville Gardens home on Saturday, November 26, and ransacked the property. The gang stole the pair’s life savings, pension books and even their winter fuel allowance.

Mr Bell, who recently underwent heart surgery, was left badly shaken after being struck on the head when he tried to fend the men off.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the aftermath of the sickening attack, Eileen and Colin are said to be overwhelmed by the community’s generosity in helping them get back on their feet.

And on Monday (December 5) clients from the day centre at Whiteabbey Hospital presented Margaret King from the Whiteabbey Community Group and friend of the Bells, Kay Tourish, with a food hamper to help Colin and Eileen through the next couple of weeks.

Included was various tinned foods, chocolates, biscuits and a voucher for a Christmas turkey.

Jacqueline Cochrane, who helped organise the hamper collection from the group, said: “It was terrible what happened and when the group heard about it we wanted to help Colin and Eileen.”

Read the full story in this week’s Times...