Man fights for life after US attack

A DISTRAUGHT family is hoping their youngest son will regain consciousness and be able to celebrate his 21st birthday in a fortnight’s time.

John Brennan from Clara in Kilkenny remains heavily sedated and in a critical condition in an American hospital following an unprovoked attack on the streets of New Haven in Connecticut on Friday night last.

A US marine has been arrested in connection with the serious assault and is due to face charges in the coming days.

The attack occurred as the 20-year-old carpenter was waiting for a taxi outside an Irish bar in the city.

The incident has stunned the community of Clara in Kilkenny. More than 200 neighbours and friends packed into St Colman’s Parish Church on Tuesday morning where local parish priest, Fr Jim Murphy, prayed for the family and for young John’s recovery.

He also praised the close-knit community for their support of the family.

John’s parents, Cllr Tommy Brennan, his wife, Mai, and their family are highly regarded in the community. They recently made land available to allow for an extension to the play area at Clara National School.

“We pray to the Lord to give them strength at this time,” Fr Murphy said.

John, a keen sportsman and youngest of four children had been in the US since August 25. He travelled there with another neighbour to work with his friend’s brother.

His parents, along with sisters, Marian and Elaine and brother, Paraic, are all at his bedside in the US, as are various other members of the Irish community there who have supported the family since they arrived.

The events in the run-up to the attack are as yet unclear. John’s two workmates went to a boxing match on the night in question and he went into the city with other friends. A row developed in an Irish bar, but the young Kilkenny man was not involved in the dispute.

However, he was followed out of the bar, struck from behind and fell and hit his head.

He has been on life support since the attack. He regained consciousness briefly on Tuesday and moved an arm and a leg. However, his condition has been complicated by the fact that he has developed pneumonia and the next 48 hours will be critical to his recovery.