Pensioner ‘hogtied and forced to watch his house burn down’ | World | News
A pensioner was allegedly tied by two masked men armed with crowbars, dragged outside and forced to watch his house being burned down. Police allege the pair attacked Grant Whelan, 76, and demanded he unlock the safe containing the weapons.
Mr Whelan is recovering hospital After theft and assault property In Coles Bay near Hobart, TasmaniaIn the early hours of Saturday, July 11. His son-in-law Reid Hooker told the ABC: “No one in the world deserves this kind of treatment. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Mr Hooker told the broadcaster that an off-duty firefighter was passing by and saw a red flash near Mr Whelan’s home.
Coles Bay Fire Brigade initially thought they were heading towards the grass fire, but when they arrived at the property they found the fire was burning and Mr Whelan was bound and gagged outside.
The criminals took their guns and cash before fleeing in Mr Whelan’s Toyota HiLux, which police found submerged in the river.
Mr Hooker said his father-in-law had “some terrible bruises and lacerations on his arms” from which he tried to protect himself. news.com.au reports.
He added that Mr Whelan’s condition worsened on Sunday due to fluid in his lungs and his heart was stressed.
Mr Whelan, a retired farmer, was president of a local gun and rifle club and owned a number of hunting rifles, which he reportedly kept locked in a safe.
A GoFundMe page was set up following the fire. Mr Whelan’s daughter, Chantel Yates, wrote: “Dad is old fashioned and has never had insurance so there is nothing coming up to help him start over.
He said his father spent his life helping others but now must recover from the attack and rebuild from scratch.
Ms Yates added: “[F]or once he is the one who needs help. “The funds raised will go directly to my father and will first cover his immediate needs (clothing, basic needs, medical and recovery expenses, and a place to live) and then go towards rebuilding his home.”
Mr Whelan’s daughter said everything in the house was destroyed in the fire, including the Medal of Bravery, which is awarded in Australia to reward people who put themselves at risk to protect the life or property of others.
