Gardaí are investigating a burglary at the home of well-known children's charity worker Christina Noble.
During the incident, a man armed with a knife broke into Ms Noble's house, threatened her and demanded money.
The campaigner had returned home to Dublin from Vietnam on doctor's orders for some rest.
Ms Noble says she pressed a panic alarm and the burglar fled.
The man was in the house for 12 minutes. He took her wallet, keys and car.
Ms Noble said gardaí were quickly on the scene. She was shaken by the incident but uninjured.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.
