A HUSBAND has told how his wife will never be the same again after she was savagely assaulted by a 14-year-old boy who robbed her after his parents stopped his pocket money.
Retired nurse Anna McDaid suffered horrific injuries after she was set upon by the teenager in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in August last year while walking to her local post office.
She suffered a broken arm, dislocated shoulder and was knocked unconscious during the attack, which happened at 5pm. Her handbag, which contained €300, was stolen and later discovered without the money.
She was found by a passerby and had to spend nine days in hospital being treated for her injuries.
Speaking at Milford District Court yesterday, Ms McDaid’s husband Joe said his wife is still undergoing medical treatment and has only 50 per cent use of her left arm.
“She is trying to get on with her life but she will never be the same woman she was,” he said.
Ms McDaid’s attacker was before the courts to allow Judge Paul Kelly to hear the outcome of a probation report carried out on the youth, who is now 15.
Solicitor Kieran Dillon told the court that the youth is now a completely different character and is sorry for what happened.
He has completed a home-schooling course and is now looking to begin a computer course with Fás. “Nothing I can say will change what happened to Ms McDaid and my client is deeply sorry for what he did.
“But this has been a life-changing incident for him. His attitude at home has changed completely and there is no defiance that he once showed to his parents. He is at a crossroads in his life and I would ask you to give him a chance,” he said.
At an earlier sitting of the court Mr Dillon said the boy had been causing his parents problems before the attack. They had tried to discipline him by cutting off his pocket money, which proved disastrous.
“He came to Letterkenny and had something in his mind. He had no pocket money because his parents had cut it . . . Ms McDaid became the victim and he caused her the most serious difficulties possible. It was a purely random attack and Ms McDaid was not targeted,” he said.
Mr Dillon said he had tried to arrange a meeting to allow the boy to apologise to Ms McDaid but she declined the offer. He has given his victim €500 in compensation.
Judge Kelly thanked Mr McDaid for coming to court and passed on his best wishes to Mr McDaid’s wife.
The court also heard that the boy faced other charges of theft of alcohol from a supermarket and the theft of a car to which he pleaded guilty. “This is a catalogue of criminal behaviour over a four- or five-month period. I have to take into consideration the horrific injuries which Ms McDaid has suffered and which will remain with her for a long time,” the judge said.
He adjourned the case until September 12th for an updated probation report and said he was considering imposing 120 hours of community service on the boy.