'Left for dead' man comes home

A 21-year old Kilkennyman who was left for dead after an attack in the US, got a hero's welcome yesterday to his family and friends who had gathered for an early Thanksgiving dinner.

John Brennan barely survived an attack on September 28 when he was struck outside an Irish bar in New Haven, Connecticut. He has astounded medics by making a full recovery after being on a life support machine and surviving two major operations. Yesterday, at his home in Clara on the outskirts of Kilkenny city, John was showing off his scar to his seven year-old niece, Dianaimh Phelan and her friends. The scar spans half his hair line and continues down the centre of his head, ending behind his left ear.

The Christmas decorations were all up and a banner inside the patio door read 'Welcome Home John'. For the Brennan family, yesterday was a very special day.