Boy attacked woman after pocket-money was stopped

A HEARTBROKEN husband has told how his wife will never be the same woman after she was assaulted by a 14-year-old boy who robbed her after his parents stopped his pocket-money.

Retired nurse Anna McDaid was badly injured after she was set upon by the boy in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in August last year while walking to her local post office.

She suffered a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder and was knocked unconscious during the attack which happened at 5pm.

Her handbag, which contained €300, was stolen and found later without the money.

She was found by a passer-by and had to spend nine days in hospital.

Speaking at Milford District Court yesterday, Ms McDaid’s husband, Joe, revealed how his wife is still undergoing medical treatment and still only has 50% use of her left arm.

“She is trying to get on with her life, but she will never be the same woman she was,” he said.

Ms McDaid’s young attacker was before the courts to allow Judge Paul Kelly to hear the outcome of a probation report carried on the youth, who is now 15.

Solicitor Kieran Dillon told the court that the boy is now a completely different character and is sorry for what happened.

He has completed a home-schooling course and is now looking to begin a computer course with FÁS.

“Nothing I can say will change what happened to Ms McDaid and my client is deeply sorry for what he did.

“But this has been a life-changing incident for him. His attitude at home has changed completely and there is no defiance that he once showed to his parents.

“He is at a crossroads in his life and I would ask you to give him a chance.”

At an earlier sitting of the court, Mr Dillon said the boy had been causing his parents problems before the attack and they had tried to discipline him by cutting off his pocket-money.

Mr Dillon said he had tried to arrange a meeting to allow the boy to apologise to Ms McDaid’s face, but she declined the offer.

He has given his victim €500 in compensation.

Judge Paul Kelly thanked Mr McDaid for coming to court and passed on his best wishes to Mr McDaid’s wife, Anna, in her recovery.

The court also heard that he boy faced other charges of theft of alcohol from a supermarket and the unauthorised taking of a car to which he pleaded guilty.

He adjourned the case until September 12 for an updated probation report and said he was considering imposing 120 hours community service on the boy.