English visitor's family told `not to have false hopes'

The family of the English visitor who was stabbed repeatedly in an attack in Dublin at the weekend has been told not to "have any false hopes" by doctors at St James's Hospital.

Mr David Richardson (45) is in the hospital's intensive care unit, where his condition is described as "critical".

Mr Richardson's wife, Laverne, yesterday said he was drifting in and out of consciousness, but was "in a bad way".

The couple were assaulted as they walked with their son, Christian, from the city centre towards Ringsend. They had had a meal in a restaurant, the Thai Orchid, on Westmoreland Street in celebration of their wedding anniversary and Christian's 24th birthday.

Unable to hail a taxi at about 12.30 a.m. on Sunday, the three began walking through Pearse Street.

Ms Richardson said they had walked some of the way when a group of "young lads standing by a chipper starting shouting abuse at us.

"We kept walking, trying to ignore them but they kept shouting at us," she said.

She said they were chased and one produced a knife. Describing the attack, Ms Richardson said several cars and taxis passed the scene while David was being stabbed.

"Christian was jumping in the middle of the road asking people to stop, but no one did. I was really terrified. By the time it was all over and I had David lying on the pavement. Blood was pumping from his mouth and back. A woman came along and put a bag under his head and by then there were loads of cars around us. But it was too late by then. It was too late.

"It all took about half an hour," she went on. "Someone called an ambulance and they were there immediately. The ambulance people were brilliant."

The couple had visited Dublin for the weekend. Their son moved here a year ago. It was their first visit here as a couple.

Mr Christian Richardson travelled to Bristol on Monday to collect belongings for his mother and sister, Charlene. He returned to Dublin yesterday.

"Christian is devastated and I am just feeling numb," said Ms Richardson. "I think he's [Mr Richardson] conscious of what's happening. He can't speak because he has tubes down his throat, but I asked him yesterday if he knew I was there, and he squeezed my hand." She said the incident would not put her off coming back to Ireland.

"We had a great evening up to that. I don't feel anything bad about Ireland. They are just lads who were ignorant. But please thank all the people who have been so kind, sending us messages of support, flowers and cards."

Meanwhile, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD (FG), said the "growing number of attacks" in Dublin showed there was "now a crisis on our streets". Some 27 unprovoked assaults had been reported in the first three months of the year, she said.