ACTOR DAPHNE Carroll remains in hospital after she was mugged on her way home from Mass earlier this month.
The 86-year-old sustained a fractured hip, a fracture to her left arm, three stitches to the forehead and facial bruising, after the incident on Saturday, February 13th. She remained in St James’s Hospital yesterday having received surgery for injuries to her hip.
Her daughter, actor Jane Brennan, who revealed details of the case yesterday, said it was “unconscionable” that anyone would attack someone of Ms Carroll’s age and small stature.
“It does seem that the more vulnerable someone looks the more likely they are to be singled out,” Ms Brennan said yesterday, adding that elderly people needed to be aware that this could occur, even in a quiet residential area.
Ms Carroll was on her way home following Mass in the Church of the Three Patrons on Rathgar Road at about 7.15pm. She was “roughly knocked to the ground” as she was walking from Rathgar Avenue into Brighton Avenue. She had her bag, which is thought to have contained about €70, stolen.
Ms Brennan said that her mother had been very independent before the attack but feels that the incident will have “a big impact on her independence” in future.
“It’s only beginning to dawn on her what’s happened,” Ms Carroll’s daughter said yesterday. “She is still in shock.”
Having consulted her family, Ms Brennan spoke on yesterday's Livelineprogramme on RTÉ Radio One to raise awareness among old people and to thank those who came to her mother's assistance following the attack.
Terenure gardaí confirmed yesterday that they were continuing to investigate the attack. No arrests have been made to date in relation to the incident.
Ms Carroll, a former Abbey actor, played numerous roles including Mrs Bradshaw in Strumpet Cityand was the voice of Mrs Doyle in the RTÉ radio soap Harbour Hotel.
In 2004, she received a Lifetime Membership Award from Irish Equity for “dedicated service and lifetime contribution” to the profession.