POLICE in Northern Ireland are looking for a car registered in the Republic of Ireland following a 'horrendous' assault on an elderly woman.
Pat Davidson, 83, fell from an upstairs bedroom window as four males ransacked her Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone home.
Ms Davisdson, a widow and mother of two grown sons, was found by a passing dog walker lying on the hard ground below an open upstairs bedroom window.
She is currently in hospital in a critical condition after suffering a fractured skull, spine and pelvis and police are treating the incident as attempted murder.
Neighbour and Elder from Ms Davidson's Presbyterian Church, Derek Loane told BBC NI: "I've known this lady a good number of years through the church and she's my local neighbour here as well.
"She's a very highly respected lady in the community, a lady of great faith.
"The community is in shock at the minute at what has happened."
The minister of Aughnacloy Presbyterian Church, Rev Ian McKee, told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme it was a "horrendous incident."
"While burglaries are not uncommon, for something like this to happen in our little town, folk really cannot take it in.
"She is a member of my congregation, I have been minister in Aughnacloy for six years and Pat is a member of mine and a well-respected lady in the town."
Police believe the attack on Ms Davidson's home is linked to three other burglaries in Co Tyrone and are hunting four suspects who made off in a black coloured car in the direction of Moore Street.
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said: “We are continuing to investigate this appalling incident in which a vulnerable 83 year old woman sustained serious injuries and the other burglaries which we believe are linked.
“We have made progress and would now like to make a specific appeal for anyone who has information about two cars which may have been in the location of the burglaries over recent days."
One of the cars is from Northern Ireland while the other is a car registered in Co Wexford in the Republic, and have released the registration plates of the vehicles they are searching for.
“We are seeking information about a dark coloured car bearing the registration GK56 AEG, and a silver car, possibly a Ford Focus, with registration 06 WX 6313.
"We believe at this stage these were both false registration plates," Det Chief Insp Caldwell said.
Police have set up an incident room in Dungannon Co Tyrone to deal with any information.
