Pensioner 'shaken' after gun ordeal

Isabella Bottomley: Had gun held to her head

A gun was put to the head of an 89-year-old woman during a post office robbery in County Antrim.

Two masked men, one armed with a handgun, threatened Isabella Bottomley and another woman at Balnamore post office near Ballymoney.

The sub-postmistress, Christine Storey, the wife of north Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey, was forced to hand over money during the incident at about 1210 GMT on Thursday.

The elderly woman, who helps out daily at the post-office, was badly shaken by the incident.

Isabella said: "They pushed me into the store.

"They said to lie down, but I would never be lying down."

The culprits stole a substantial amount of cash.

The post office staff were shaken by the incident

Detective Inspector Garry Crawford said the robbery was horrendous.

"Not only were members of staff terrified for themselves, but they were more concerned about the plight of the elderly lady," he said.

"It is absolutely despicable."

The robbers are understood to have made their getaway in a white Citroen car which sped off towards the Taughey Road.

Police believe organised criminals possibly paramilitaries were behind the robbery.

They have appealed for information.