Family appeal for return of sentimental necklace

The burglary took place between 5:30pm and 6:20pm on Saturday, December 2,

A local family, the victim of callous thieves, have launched a heart-wrenching appeal for the return of a precious necklace that belonged to their late daughter.

The necklace was one of numerous pieces of jewellery, which along with a substantial sum of money, was reported stolen during a robbery at an elderly couple’s home on the outskirts of Cavan Town.

The burglary – in the Creighan area – took place between 5:30pm and 6:20pm on Saturday, December 2, when the couple left their home to collect a takeaway and visit a local supermarket.

When they returned, they discovered cash on the ground and the front doors of the house were open. When the couple entered the house, where they reside with their son, it had been ransacked. A cupboard under the stairs that contained an old-style safe was broken open and the safe removed.

Vanessa, the couple’s daughter, told the Celt, when her parents went upstairs the rooms were “wrecked”.

“The thieves took jewellery; opened every closet and went through every drawer,” she continued.

“The safe under the stairs was taken and a sum of cash.”

The family sense that those involved “struggled” to remove the safe because there were scratch marks on the hall floor and also outside on the concrete as a result of it being dragged.

Vanessa says her 12-year-old sister Michaela died following a road traffic collision in 2002 when she was tragically knocked off her bicycle. A necklace with her name engraved on it was one of the pieces of jewellery stolen. Her mother also had a necklace with Michaela’s face set in it and that too was taken.

“The necklace that Michaela wore was yellow and white gold with her name engraved on it,” described Vanessa.

“That necklace is of such sentimental value to all of us and we really want it back.”

The robbery has caused great upset to the entire family and Vanessa’s parents have been left distraught. “It has brought everything back for us,” she said.

“It’s like going back in time, all those years ago to when Michaela died; the necklaces were precious to us and they are all gone.”

Meanwhile, gardaí in Cavan Town have launched an investigation into the matter. They and the family are appealing to anyone travelling along the Ballinagh Road at the time who noticed anything suspicious to contact them.

A football match was scheduled for 6pm that evening in Breffni Park and traffic was very heavy in the area at the time.

“We want to know why mam and dad were targeted, especially along a busy road,” says Vanessa.

“We are appealing to anyone who saw anything to please get in touch with the gardaí. Mam and dad are distraught; they are both retired and are now living in fear. The fact that this happened and, at the time, it happened in such a busy area has left us all flabbergasted. Daddy loved Christmas, loved cooking for everyone and now he doesn’t want to do anything.”