Crimestoppers offer €10,000 for serious assault conviction

A €10,000 reward has been offered by the Crimestoppers organisation for information leading to the conviction of a group of men who assaulted a 40-year-old Dubliner last August, leaving him brain-damaged.

Vincent O'Brien, O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, has been in St James's Hospital since the attack in Bluebell, eight months ago.

His mother, Mary O'Brien (64), last night told The Irish Times her son has no chance of ever recovering.

"It's awful for any mother to have to go through what I am going through. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," she said.

"He is completely depending on the hospital to do everything for him. They've told us that he will have to go into long-term care in a nursing home, and because he can't breathe on his own there is only one place that can take him. One of his eyebrows was taken off in the attack, he had such a gash on his face.

"The hospital has told us that he will never walk again. Most of the time he doesn't even know who I am. Some days he will give you a wave. I go up and see him twice a day every day."

Mr O'Brien, a single man, is one of eight siblings. He had gone to visit friends in the Bluebell estate on August 17th last. On his way home in the early hours of August 18th he was set upon by a group of men on Huband Road, Bluebell, near the Bernard Curtis flats complex.

He sustained severe injuries to his head and upper body. Gardaí believe they know who his attackers are and arrested them shortly after the incident. However, there was insufficient evidence to charge them.

Mrs O'Brien believes people in the Bluebell area have information which could assist the Garda investigation. "It won't help me or Vincent but if somebody out there with a conscience came forward it might prevent this happening to another family."

The Crimestoppers reward will be paid to anybody who supplies information leading to a conviction in the case. The organisation can be contacted confidentially on 1800 250 025.