An 84-year-old woman has spoken out about the terrifying moment she was robbed at knifepoint alongside her brother in Cork on Sunday.
Mary O'Halloran was visiting her 79-year-old brother Gerry at his home in Boyce's Street in Gurranabraher at around 7.30am when the incident occurred.
She told Cork's 96FM's The Opinion Line she is "just trying to get over it".
Mary said she is now back at home where she cares for her sister while Gerry remains in hospital.
She said: "We got an awful fright. I'm not too bad today, just trying to get over it. Gerry is still in hospital.
"He was not hurt but is shaken, so they kept him in, and I went home as I'm looking after my sister as well.
"I go up to him every Saturday and Sunday morning. I get up early and get stuff ready for him for his home help."
Mary said the burglar had locked the door and then proceeded to threaten both her and her brother with a knife.
She said: "He held it up to my throat sure and then Gerry's because he wanted money off us, and we couldn't do nothing else then… because he was going to stab us."
The horrifying ordeal lasted for an hour with both Mary and Gerry unable to contact anyone as the thief had cut the phone line and removed three bulbs from light fittings within the front room.
"We got an awful fright, and it's only now you get all right after it.
"He had cut the phone line, and he took down three bulbs and shades in the front room. He took the lights down," Mary explained.
Mary said her brother is still very shaken by the burglary as she had spoken to him on the phone on Monday morning as she is still unable to visit him in person due to restrictions.
She said: "He's afraid inside the hospital. I was talking to him there this morning on the phone in the hospital. The girl let me talk to him because you're not let into the ward as you know, and he was still shaking, he told me."
Broadcaster PJ Coogan told Mary about the Gofundme page that has been set up to help the siblings get their money back.
Mary thanked the people of Ireland for their donations and said she would tell her brother the news.
Meanwhile, investigating Gardaí are appealing for information and are keen to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Boyce's Street or neighbouring streets between 6:30am and 9am on Sunday who may have witnessed anything to come forward.
They are also appealing to road users with video footage from the Gurranabraher area between those times, to make it available to them.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021 4946200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Donations can be made to the fundraising effort here.
