Men masquerading as Gardai swindled an 82-year-old Foulksmills man out of his savings, claiming his pension had been paid in counterfeit notes.

Tom Reville (82) from Loughnageer, Foulksmills lost a 'substantial' amount of money after being tricked into allowing two men into his home last Thursday.

The retired farmer was on his way to visit his niece Pauline Keating, who lives nearby, when two men stopped him in the laneway beside his home.

They came up to me and told me they were Guards. They said if I didn't believe them they would show me proof, and they took out a Garda badge and showed it to me,' said the shook-up pensioner this week.

Tom was told by the men that counterfeit notes were being circulated through Foulksmills Post Office where he collected his pension, and all of the cash he had in his house should be inspected.

The men, one of whom was in his 50s and the other in his early 20s, then suggested that they also examine Mr. Reville's home to ensure it was secure, and safe from intruders.

They came in and said that they would measure the door, and get new locks for it,' he said.

One of them then asked to see all of the cash Mr. Reville had in his cottage. He produced a 'substantial' amount of cash, which the men said was mainly 'counterfeit'.

They took the money and quickly left the premises.

'I brought them into the house, that was my big mistake,' he said this week. 'I'd really like to warn other people living on their own about this kind of thing. It's terrible to think someone would do this,' he said.

He added that he did become suspicious of the men when they came into the house but decided to give them the money. 'I decided to go along with them. I didn't want them to harm me,' he said.

- Elaine FURLONG