Millie has more skin graft surgery 2 years after attack

ONE of the two Limerick children horrifically burned in a petrol bomb attack nearly two years ago has undergone more skin graft surgery.

Millie Murray, now aged eight, is recovering at the Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin where she is being treated with morphine for the pain.

Millie and her brother Gavin were treated for five months at the special burns unit in Crumlin after the attack and each had three skin graft operations at that time.

The attack was carried out on September 10, 2006, after the children’s mother, Sheila Murray, refused to give a lift to a local youth to a sitting of the city court.

Millie and Gavin were allowed home in February 2007 and the family moved out of Moyross.

While the two children have been going back to the hospital on a regular basis to have their treatment and progress monitored, this is the first time either has had further surgery.

The children’s mother Sheila Murray has spent most of the past week at Millie’s bedside.

She said: “Millie was admitted to the hospital a week ago and had her operation on Thursday. A skin graft was taken from her tummy and put on her arm. She was not able to straighten her arm as the skin got tighter as she grew. She had three earlier skin grafts before she was allowed home last year.”

Gavin had three skin grafts while he was treated after the attack, but Sheila said it will be some time before he can have more grafts.

His left ear, which “melted” in the inferno, will have to be totally rebuilt.

Millie and Gavin have to wear special burn suits to protect their skin from infection and their massive scars have to regularly dressed and creams applied.

Sheila said: “The burn suits drive them mad in the fine weather. They were taken to Disneyland in Paris recently and it was 30 degrees. The suits tired them and they had to try and stay in the shade. But they had a great time.”

While Sheila remains with Millie, friends are looking after her other children, Nicola, 13, Jason, 10, and Dillon, 3, at their home at Clonisle, Limerick.

Three youths were jailed last October for the petrol bomb attack.

Jonathan O’Donoghue, aged 18, from Moyross, who organised the attack, got six years; Robert Sheehan, aged 17, also from Moyross and who was a look-out, got two years and John Mitchell, aged 18, who lived near the Murrays got five years.

Sheila Murray said yesterday: “I don’t think they got enough for what they have done and what my children will have to go through for the rest of their lives. Jonathan O’Donoghue who organised it will be out in four and a half years with time off. But this is an ongoing nightmare for us with one thing after another.”