Boy fights for his life after street assault

Family of 14-year-old prays for a miracle

Teenager Brian Rossiter collapsed in a garda cell two days after he was beaten badly in a street in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

The 14-year-old was rushed to the local hospital on Wednesday morning before being transferred to the intensive care unit in Cork University Hospital, where his condition was described as critical.

Grandmother Joan Rossiter said last night the youngster was on a life-support machine.

"It's desperate. His mother and father and his uncles and aunts are all up in the hospital. They haven't been given too much hope. But you never know, we are praying for a miracle," Mrs Rossiter said.

She said Brian had come to Clonmel from his mother's home in Wexford. He was staying with his sister but did not return home on Sunday evening.

"Then this happens. The person that beat him, he was a lot older," Mrs Rossiter said.

She said that gardaí picked him up on Tuesday evening.

"The next morning, he collapsed."

Most of Brian's extended family live in Clonmel. He had moved from there with his mother to Wexford.

It was believed, though not confirmed, that the assault was the key reason the boy was fighting for his life.

It was unclear whether drink or other substances contributed to his condition, although he was intoxicated when he was taken into custody.

Clonmel gardaí brought him to the local station after 9pm on Tuesday under public disorder laws, as he was found to be intoxicated and a possible danger to himself and others.

The next morning, gardaí became alarmed at his condition, a doctor was called and he was taken to Our Lady's Hospital in the south Tipperary town. He was then transferred to Cork.

Gardaí then discovered that the youngster had been assaulted in the town's Cashel St at 12.30am on Monday.

It had not been reported at the time, but the youngster had marks on his face, including two black eyes.

He had not complained of being ill when he was taken into custody on Tuesday.

"It transpired he was a victim of a serious assault," Superintendent Dick Burke said yesterday.

An area along Cashel Road was cordoned off as gardaí investigated the assault.

Gardaí in Clonmel are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.