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| Pensioner burglary victim praised | Pensioner burglary victim praised |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police have praised the bravery of a 97-year-old man who confronted a gang of robbers who broke into his home in west Belfast. | Police have praised the bravery of a 97-year-old man who confronted a gang of robbers who broke into his home in west Belfast. |
| The four men forced their way into John Dunne's house in Andersonstown Park South at 1330 BST on Saturday. He had a heart attack after his ordeal. | The four men forced their way into John Dunne's house in Andersonstown Park South at 1330 BST on Saturday. He had a heart attack after his ordeal. |
| Detective Chief Inspector John McVea said that he would not encourage people to take on intruders. | |
| "He has been very brave and his family are proud of his actions," he said. | "He has been very brave and his family are proud of his actions," he said. |
| Mr Dunne was cut on the arm as he struggled with the intruders and was taken to hospital for a check-up following the burglary. | Mr Dunne was cut on the arm as he struggled with the intruders and was taken to hospital for a check-up following the burglary. |
| However, his condition deteriorated and he suffered a heart attack at his home during the night. He is now said to be stable. | However, his condition deteriorated and he suffered a heart attack at his home during the night. He is now said to be stable. |
| Before driving off, the gang threatened Mr Dunne's son, Maghnus, who had called to take his father to church. | Before driving off, the gang threatened Mr Dunne's son, Maghnus, who had called to take his father to church. |
| Mr Dunne's son said the gang had threatened to kill his father | |
| "He just took a heart attack last night and I'll have to go down and see him now - they didn't want anybody down earlier on," he said at the weekend. | "He just took a heart attack last night and I'll have to go down and see him now - they didn't want anybody down earlier on," he said at the weekend. |
| "He's 97 and taking that sort of abuse." | "He's 97 and taking that sort of abuse." |
| "They ran over to the car and one of them said, give it me, give it me. I'll kill him." | "They ran over to the car and one of them said, give it me, give it me. I'll kill him." |
| However, the men then got into the car and drove off. | However, the men then got into the car and drove off. |
| Police are investigating a possible link with an incident in nearby Gransha Drive. | Police are investigating a possible link with an incident in nearby Gransha Drive. |
| A man came to an elderly woman's door and asked to get in to check the water supply. However, she refused to let him in. | A man came to an elderly woman's door and asked to get in to check the water supply. However, she refused to let him in. |
| Police have appealed for information. They want to hear from anyone who saw a grey or silver vehicle in the area. | Police have appealed for information. They want to hear from anyone who saw a grey or silver vehicle in the area. |