Victim of violent robbery describes attackers as 'pure evil'

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 5:38am

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 5:38am

In short:

The man involved in a violent robbery on Tasmania's east coast has provided a statement to the ABC from hospital.

Grant Whelan was tied up, assaulted, robbed and forced to watch his house burn down by at least two men on Saturday.

What's next?

Mr Whelan says he is thankful for the community support, as he continues to recover.

The victim of a violent robbery on Tasmania's east coast has described the people who attacked him as "pure evil".

Grant Whelan, 76, was bound with cable ties and assaulted by at least two men, who robbed his home and stole nine of his firearms in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They then dragged him outside into the cold, set his Coles Bay home on fire, and forced him to watch as it burnt to the ground.

In a statement provided to the ABC from hospital, Mr Whelan said he was thankful for the community support, including an online fundraiser that has raised about $70,000.

"[It is] extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary," Mr Whelan said.

Mr Whelan described the offenders as "pure evil".

"All of the sudden you're laying there looking at the weather chart, next second, you are getting your guts punched out of you and you just don't know where it has all come from,"

he said.

Mr Whelan said he had been dealing with nightmares since the incident on Saturday.

"[I] wake up with flashes of bright lights and people screaming,"

he said.

The men who attacked Mr Whelan have not yet been found.

Detective Inspector David Gill said police continued to search for the offenders and the stolen firearms, which were registered.

"We're renewing our call for anyone with information that may assist our investigations to come forward," Inspector Gill said.

"If you have dash-cam or CCTV that may be relevant to our investigations, or information in relation to the stolen firearms or anyone who has obtained or is selling firearms, please come forward."

Mr Whelan's car was also stolen, but was found on Saturday afternoon, submerged in the nearby Apsley River.