Family’s bedside vigil continues for beaten son

THE father of a young man beaten unconscious by a gang still clocks up 140 miles most days to be at his son’s hospital bedside.

For John Franklin, the traumatic journeys have been going on since his 23-year-old son, Denis, was attacked in Cork city centre on February 17 last.

Denis Franklin, a Cork Institute of Technology student, remains unconscious at Cork’s University Hospital.

“Denis is the same way, there’s no change.

“We’re only just praying and hoping,” his father said.

“Myself and my wife, Josephine, go up almost every second day, and other members of the family also take it in turns to be with Denis. It’s torture, he’s my son, your heart is like lead some days,” Mr Franklin said.

He’s trying to come to terms with the barbarity of the attack and is concerned that such scenes of violence are becoming more prevalent in cities.

A little over two weeks before his son was attacked, Christian Scully, 27, from Togher, Cork, was beaten unconscious in a separate incident just a few hundred yards from where Denis was assaulted. Mr Scully also remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Mr Franklin, who lives 70 miles away in Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, said he is praying for a miracle recovery.

“It’s something I never thought I’d have to face. For every one of us it’s a life sentence. I can only pray too for the people who did it to Denis.

“He was a strong lad, but he never interfered with anyone,” Mr Franklin said.

He’s making a special pilgrimage to Medjigoria shortly to pray that his son will regain consciousness.

Denis’s older brother, Michael, said he visits him four to five times a week. “It doesn’t get any easier. God may provide the miracle we’re praying for,” Michael said.

Six people have been interviewed in relation to the attack on Denis Franklin and a file has been sent to the DPP.

A file on two other men has also been sent to the DPP in the case of Christian Scully.