A drug addict grandfather who was part of a masked gang that raided an elderly couple's home has been jailed for five years.

Garda Paul O'Hara described grandfather of three Patrick Ryan (50) as a "foot soldier" to a "more serious individual" who planned the raid.

The four masked men tied up James Mountaine and his wife, beat them and threatened to burn and kill them if they did not tell them where to find money.

A friend, who had been on the phone to Mr Mountaine as the raiders burst in the door, heard the whole ordeal and called gardaí. This friend went to the home and interrupted the attack by ringing the doorbell.

Ryan, of South Circular Road, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting James and Sally Mountaine, threats to kill and stealing US$4,000 and jewellery at Ashfield, Templeogue on February 3rd, 2010.

He has 38 previous convictions - including nine years in prison for larceny in 1997 and four years for robbery in 1982.

Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the last two years of a seven year sentence. She said that the threat to set the woman on fire was an aggravating factor.

Threats to burn his wife

The raiders burst in on the couple, who were then in their mid-70s, as they were both preparing to leave for the morning.

Mr Mountaine had been on the phone to a friend about playing golf and his wife was about to leave for mass.

The masked men handcuffed the couple behind their backs and put them face down on the floor. They tied Mr Mountaine's ankles to his wrists and threatened to burn his wife and kill them both if he did not tell them where to find money in the house.

The men told Mr Mountaine that they knew he worked at the local golf club and brought money home. He replied that he had no access to the club money.

They beat him about the head, calling him a "rich ba**ard", until he told them about US$4,000 he had saved over a number of years and kept in the freezer.

The raiders tied a rope around his wife's neck and stuffed something with a flammable smell in her mouth. They also kicked her and pulled her hair. At one point she saw a petrol can, which the men threatened to light.

The doorbell rang as one of the masked men was trying to stuff something in Mr Mountaine's mouth. The raiders panicked and ran into the kitchen as the couple screamed for help.

They then fled into neighbouring gardens. As they left they smashed the windscreen of the victim's friend's car.