Man assaulted in Montclair house robbery, family speaks out
While response teams said the events leading up to the incident were unknown, the family said the victim, Michael O'Gorman, was definitely assaulted.
AN ELDERLY was battered and bruised after he was assaulted in an alleged house invasion and robbery in his Montclair home on Thursday, November 11.
ALS Paramedics Medical Services together with ET Rapid Response arrived on the scene to find that a man was at home with his young grandchild when they were allegedly attacked.
Earlier reports indicated that two grandchildren were in the house at the time of the incident, but the family confirmed that just one child was at home at the time.
“The man sustained moderate injuries and was stabilised on the scene before being transported to a nearby Durban hospital for the further treatment that he required,” said ALS Paramedics Medical Services spokesperson Garrith Jamieson.
While response teams said the events leading up to the incident were unknown, police were on the scene, took a statement from the victim and will be investigating further.
Montclair SAPS communications officer, Captain Derek Vijiam said no arrests had been made as yet.
According to the family, the victim, Michael O’Gorman, aged 69, was definitely assaulted.
“My mother and daughter had stepped out to go to the shops while my dad and son were asleep in the house. My neighbour’s security footage shows a vehicle driving up and down the road before it stopped and two men approached our house. They proceeded to enter the premises and from what we can make up of the incident, they took a plank from the garage and tried to knock the burglar guard,” said daughter, Michelle Bellringer. She shared that she believed her dad was woken up by the noise and saw a man attempt to gain access through the window.
“While trying to stop him, my dad was attacked by the second man who had gained access into the house. The man pepper-sprayed and attacked my dad. They tied his hands with shoelaces and his legs with a rope. My dad was kicked several times. A third man also came into the house during the incident. The suspects asked my dad where we kept valuables and money in the house which my dad eventually disclosed. They stole our electronics and other valuables in the house. They also drugged the dog which needed to be taken to the vet,” detailed a shaken Michelle.
She said her dad was able to cut himself free after the suspects fled the scene and alerted the neighbour to contact a response team.
“He was battered and bruised and suffered a few broken ribs. He was hospitalised after giving his statement to the police. My son was able to hide under the bed in one of the rooms and was unharmed,” she said.
The family thanks all security personal and the police who attended the scene.
