An elderly woman was savagely beaten before being tied to a fence during a break-in at her home.

The woman, in her late 60s, was subjected to a horrific attack that has shocked Waterford gardai.

She was targeted in the early hours of Saturday morning by a gang made up of up to three men.

The robbery comes just weeks after the death of Paddy Barry, who died after a vicious break-in at his home, also in the Waterford area.

Local gardai have appealed for the public's help in tracking down the culprits.

It is believed the men broke into the woman's house at Drumgelane, Grange, near Ardmore at around 4.40am on Saturday.

She is likely to have been woken by the commotion and the raiders went to her bedroom and tied her to a bed.

Savings

They repeatedly beat her until she told them where her savings were hidden -- but even then they dragged her into the garden and tied her to a fence.

Having trawled through the house, they then beat the defenceless woman again before fleeing.

After a time she managed to break free and alerted gardai and an ambulance crew.

She was rushed to Waterford Regional Hospital where she was treated for a combination of shock and physical injuries.

She is said to be in a stable condition.

Gardai have described two of suspects as tall. One of them had fair hair and both had blue eyes.

They are believed to be in their 20s and clean-shaven.

Last month, the country was shocked when Paddy Barry (82) -- the grandfather of magician Keith Barry -- died six days after a burglary at his Waterford home.

He fell into a coma and never recovered from the shock after intruders broke into the house where he lived alone.

Gardai suspect that the ordeal caused the elderly man to collapse, causing the head injuries.

Mr Barry was, after all, an independent and private man who guarded his safety.

He lived in a very quiet neighbourhood of Mount Sion Avenue, which gardai say it's generally one of the safest areas of the city.

Alarm

There were several locks on his front door and his house was one of the few on the street with an Eircom alarm box.

Gardai are still investigating the break-in.

Anyone with information about Saturday morning's attack is asked to contact Dungarvan garda station at 058 48600.

- Kevin Doyle