54 year old Richie McKelvey, who was beaten and tied up by a group of men at the weekend, was too traumatised to return to his home in Brosna, County Offaly last night.
Instead, the drystock farmer stayed with his sister Annette where he is recovering from head injuries following the attack at his home.
On Saturday morning at around 2am, four men forced their way into the house he grew up in, beat him around the head with an implement and dragged him to an outhouse – his dog was also viciously beaten.
This is the second time in just 6 weeks his home has been targeted – the last time his mother’s jewellery was stolen but no arrests were made.
In an interview broadcast on RTE last night, Richie’s sister Annette said ‘he may never return home’
John Leahy is the leader of the RENUA party and member of Offaly County Council, representing the Ferbane electoral area – he’s also a close friend of the McElvey family
He spoke to the Joe Finnegan Show on Tuesday (broadcast 7/11)