BY AUSTIN LYNCH

Two Austrian women, who were travelling through Fermanagh on their holidays, were robbed last Thursday as they visited Florencecourt House, the National Trust property.

Padina Koetchoev, one of the two women, explained that they parked their hire car at Florencecourt House and went for a walk.

'We were away for about an hour and when we returned, our car had been broken into and all of their belongings had been taken".

One suitcase containing both women's clothes as well as all their documents (including their passports, cash and credit cards) was taken during the robbery.

Initially, when the women returned back to the car, they didn't notice that they had been robbed and drove away from Florencecourt. It wasn't until they stopped at a petrol station that they noticed a small dinge in the door and then made the terrible discovery of what had happened them.

The tourists alerted the National Trust staff to the theft as soon as they realised the bag was missing, after which Trust staff at Florence Court immediately contacted the PSNI.

Staff provided the visitors with facilities to contact family and sort out cancelling credit cards as well as putting the tourists in touch with the Austrian Embassy to arrange new documents in order to fly home. The Trust offered to provide accommodation, but the PSNI had already organised a local B&B.

The pair, who said they have 'nothing left', just wanted to go home and were able to get a flight home to Austria in the early hours of Friday morning.

The tourists had only arrived in Ireland the previous Friday and had intended to stay until yesterday (26th June). Their plan had been to tour around Northern Ireland in a car for the 10 days or so. But Padina admitted that, following their ordeal, they both just felt 'lost' and were desperate to get home.

The only good news is that the two ladies really enjoyed their time here, describing it as 'a perfect holiday destination' which they would be in no hesitation to return to.

According to the tourists, everyone was really nice to them, especially after what happened, and they will return to Northern Ireland some day.

Whilst the police attending to the Austrian tourists at Florencecourt, they received another call relating to a similar incident at a neighbouring tourist spot. A [PSNI spokeswoman said Police believe it to be the work of a local group going from one tourist spot to another in sequence.

Commenting on the incident, a Trust spokesperson said;

"As a major tourist attraction in the area, Florence Court has a very strong security record which further adds to the upset caused to the tourists and the property staff.

"The Trust did everything we could to help both ladies as soon as we were aware of the crime and we are encouraged that both said they would not be put of returning to Northern Ireland by this incident." A crime prevention leaflet targeted at tourists has been launched by police in Enniskillen this week.

Meanwhile, Police in Fermanagh, acting to a planned programme, have weighed in behind local tourist providers in alerting visitors to potential incidents, such as that experienced by the Austrian couple.

Chief Inspector Alywin Barton presented the PSNI safety leaflets - they offer advice to visitors - to Charlotte Wilson, Manager of the Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre on Friday afternoon last. The leaflet, which is printed in three languages - English, French and German - was further endorsed by Constable Hazel Gray, Crime Prevention Officer.

The leaflet stresses that while crime rates are low here, police are keen to alert tourists to guard against criminal activity by taking some simple crime prevention cautions.

*Never leave anything of value on display within your vehicle, vessel, caravan or other holiday accommodation when unattended.

*Ensure property is secure when leaving by closing all window and locking doors.

*Look after keys by keeping them in your possession at all times.

* Use all available security devices to deter and detect criminal activity.

*Compile a list of equipment to include make, model and serial numbers.

*Keep a look out for suspicious persons and/or vehicles and report any concerns to police immediately. Record descriptions of persons/vehicles where possible.