Canberra attack victim off life support
Canberra Hospital has confirmed that Tim McCarthy, 41, from Spa in Killarney, is recovering without the aid of life support after more than a week of fears he would join a growing list of Irish people fatally wounded in the country.
The middle-aged man was left “unresponsive” after suffering cerebral damage in the attack at 5.30am on Sunday, July 24 and underwent emergency surgery for severe brain haemorrhaging in the hours after the attack.
It had been feared the Kerryman, whose mother and sister have flown out from Ireland to be by his side, would never regain consciousness.
However, while he remains in a serious condition, the 41-year-old was yesterday taken off life support in the Australian capital as he was able to breathe by himself.
Mr McCarthy has since sat up in his hospital bed for the first time since the attack.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old who is alleged to have assaulted the Kerryman in the unprovoked attack has been remanded on bail of up to AU$22,000 (€16,800).
The Australian-based Irish Echo website has confirmed that 18-year-old Daniel Byrne, from the Franklin area of Canberra, was released after paying a AU$10,000 self-surety and his family paying a further AU$12,000.
These payments were made as guarantees that Mr Byrne will appear at an upcoming magistrates court appearance in October.
A further eight conditions have also been applied to the bail for the 18-year-old, who last week pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing into the incident.
These include agreements that Mr Byrne is to report to police twice a day, is barred from contacting a number of individuals, and is compelled to reside within the suburb of Franklin.
He has also been told not to visit Civic and other Canberra suburbs where the attack on Mr McCarthy took place or may hold relevant evidence, observe a 8pm-7am curfew under supervision, and surrender his passport to authorities.
