Bail set at $1m over Chicago attack

A WOMAN charged with the aggravated battery and robbery of an Irish student and her friend was granted bail, but only if she comes up with $1 million (€750,000).

Marcy Cruz, 25, is accused of driving her boyfriend, Heriberto Viramontes to the Bucktown neighbourhood of Chicago, after he had allegedly vowed he was “going to rob someone”.

Viramontes, 31, who has been remanded in custody, is alleged to have beaten Irish student Natasha McShane and her friend Stacy Kurich with a baseball bat and then robbed them.

Natasha, a 23-year-old UCD masters graduate who was studying in Chicago, remains in a critical condition in a drug-induced coma in the city’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The attack has been the number one topic of conversation in the city, in coffee shops and stores and on the front pages of the two main Chicago newspapers.

Stacy described how the pair, friends since they met after Natasha moved to the city in January, had been out for dinner and drinks, a double celebration after the Irish woman had received word she was able to stay in the city. Stacy had just received an excellent job review.

“It was just a wonderful night. She’s my little dance partner,” said Stacy, who added they were feeling like “free spirits”, looking forward to the summer and hosting a group of Natasha’s friends who were planning to travel over from Ireland.

“We were laughing and dancing. No matter how the night ended, we had a wonderful celebration. Natasha and I are free spirits, and that’s why we just bonded so well.”

Stacy also said Natasha’s parents, Liam and Sheila, are having a “really hard time right now”.

“I think the focus of their lives is just being at her bedside, making sure she hears all of our voices and knows we’re here. She’s going to open her eyes someday and that’s what’s most important to them… that they’re the first people she sees.”

Chicago’s police chief, Superintendent Jody Weis, did not rule out further charges against the pair accused in connection with the assault, including the possibility of attempted murder.

“We want to charge them with everything we can. We’ll continue to investigate the case, see where the evidence goes and there’ll be a chance for subsequent charging down the road.”

He added: “What a horrible case. Senseless violence. Our detectives, they deserve some kudos on that one. They worked around the clock and did a fantastic job. They pieced together so many little bits of information that led to the successful charging.”

Mayor Richard Daley has also been keeping a close eye on the case.