Disabled girl disturbs burglars

A disabled girl is the latest victim of domestic burglars

Burglars broke into a disabled girl's home in County Antrim and punched her father as she screamed.

The nine-year-old girl woke up when thieves broke into the family home in Ballyrobert, Ballyclare, at 0300 BST on Friday.

Her screaming awoke her father who confronted them.

Joy Burke said her husband had been disturbed by their daughter's cries.

He got up to find three people had broken into their home.

'Traumatic experience'

"After my daughter woke, she cried out and he thought - as my daughter is epileptic - that she had had a seizure," Mrs Burke said.

"He got up and found the men in the room - my daughter was screaming at the men.

Mrs Burke added: "It was a very traumatic experience - obviously it's one I wouldn't want to go through again or anyone else to go through."

The thieves escaped in the family's two cars, one of which was especially adapted for the child.

Electrical goods and jewellery were also stolen.