World News

Widow seizes castle tower for pension help

Published: Feb. 11, 2013 at 3:44 PM

PORDENONE, Italy, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- An Italian widow has barricaded herself in a castle tower to demand a government pension to help pay for her handicapped son's care.

The 61-year-old woman said she's been forced to care for her invalid son since a car crash. With her husband dead, she was forced to leave her job at a nearby laundry, forcing her to live on 180 euros ($241) a month.

The woman climbed the north tower of the castle of Cordovado in Pordenone, Italy, 50 miles northeast of Venice.

The woman said she won't come down until her case is reviewed, the ANSA news agency said Monday. She said she expected to receive pension benefits when she retired from her job but instead has only received local social benefits.

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