A MAN charged with the attempted murder of a young Irish student has written a “character letter” in support of his sister facing 50 years in prison for a near fatal arson attack that left two young girls disfigured for life.

Irish student Natasha McShane, who suffered serious head injuries after she was attacked by a mugger in Chicago last month, is out of a coma.

A WOMAN charged with the aggravated battery and robbery of an Irish student and her friend was granted bail, but only if she comes up with $1 million (€750,000).

AS a young Irish student continues to fight for her life in a US hospital, a man appeared in Cook County Criminal Court yesterday charged with aggravated battery and armed robbery.