A bachelor farmer has told of his terror after being attacked by two men in his home in a rural part of West Clare.
Ennis Circuit Court has heard how 64 year old PJ Looney was tied up and assaulted when the men broke into his house in August 2014.
The Court heard how 24 year old Dean O'Connor of Ferndale, Ennis Rd, Limerick and an accomplice broke into Mr. Looney's isolated home near the west Clare village of Kilmihil at 6pm on August 10th last year.
Mr Looney had his legs and arms tied with cable wire in the course of an attempted robbery.
However, the two men were disturbed by a neighbour and brother in law of Mr Looney, Tom O'Sullivan, who had become alarmed at seeing two strangers in the area.
O'Connor, who has 28 previous convictions, and his accomplice fled and Mr O'Sullivan was able to free Mr Looney and raise the alarm.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Looney said he was "so scared" and "could have been killed" when he was tied up.
He added that hey had to go to hospital on three occasions after incident, no longer felt safe in his home and was "always on edge"
Dean O'Connor pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, burglary and assault of Mr Looney.
His Council Pat Whyms said his client was absolutely appalled his own behaviour and apologised profusely to the victim
He claimed Mr. O'Connor was disgusted with himself that he was involved in an attack on an elderly man who "could have been his grandfather".
Mr Whyms said his client had lapsed into criminality because of drug use "and has "gone off the rails."
Judge Gerald Keys remanded Mr O'Connor in custody to April 14th for sentence while a psychiatrist report is sought.
