Random stranger’s incredible €5k gesture has left us completely stunned, says mum of savage attack teen
THE mum of a teen who was savagely beaten has been left stunned by a complete stranger's €5,000 gesture.
Jaime Quinn, 39, also thanked the local community for rallying around her and her family since her daughter Alanna Quinn Idris was attacked on December 30.
Gardai arrested two men following searches at homes in Dublin, and the Irish Sun understands CCTV was crucial in helping cops nail the thugs.
Both of the suspects have been charged and are due before the court tomorrow.
Mother-of-four Jaime told us: “It’s amazing that arrests have been made.
“The guards have been amazing since Alanna was attacked. I can’t fault them at all.
“We have a family liaison officer who is absolutely amazing and keeps us updated about what’s going on.”
Alanna was beaten with a metal stick, a hurl and a knife in the sickening assault outside the Ballyfermot Civic Centre.
Most read in The Sun
Jaime, who recently completed her degree in midwifery, said she has been blown away with the support her family and Alanna have received since the attack.
She also said she is absolutely shocked a GoFundMe campaign which was set up after the attack has raised around €80,000.
One generous donor gave €5,000 — but Jaime said she’s “upset” as the person remained anonymous and she wanted to thank them.
SHOCKED BY HUGE SUPPORT
She explained: “Alanna is shocked at the GoFundMe, she can’t believe it.
“One person donated €5,000 but remained anonymous, another donated €1,000 and someone even gave €500. Like, that’s huge.
“It’s amazing. It seems like if she needs any reconstructive surgery or stuff like that we have the money there to do it — which is just amazing. I can’t believe it. I’m sure she’s going to be left with some scarring.”
The 17-year-old was left with a broken cheekbone, a shattered tooth and a ruptured eyeball, which has left her blind in one eye — but her family remains hopeful her vision will return.
One of the teen’s pals who tried to protect her during the onslaught suffered a stab wound to the arm and required stitches to his head after the attack.
Medics have told Jaime that Alanna will need “repairs” done to her cheekbone and eye socket.
Jaime said: “She’ll need to have maybe some cosmetic work to get rid of the scars. She won’t want to have visible scars on her face.
“We haven’t really spoken about it but I’m sure eventually that’s what she’ll want to do.” Alanna has a follow-up appointment in the Eye and Ear Hospital today after she was transferred from St James’s Hospital in the early hours of last Friday morning to undergo emergency surgery.
Her mum said: “Maybe we’ll get some good news, but I’m not sure. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
MOOD HAS 'PICKED UP'
However, Jaime said her daughter’s eye is still quite swollen and remains closed, revealing “there is no vision at the minute”.
The Ballyfermot woman told how Alanna has been inundated with well-wishers and showered with gifts since she was released from hospital on Tuesday. She said the teenager had initially been feeling quite low — but her mood has since perked up.
Jaime, who is six months pregnant, explained: “I’m so happy. It was so good to hear her laughing. It was really nice.
“We did a little bit of a gender reveal on Wednesday, she was hoping for a baby brother — and that’s what she’s getting — so that made her smile too.
“She’s got a lot of people dropping in gifts and cards to her. She has also been spending some time with her friend who was attacked at the same time as her, and their family.”
Earlier this week, Alanna’s mum revealed how she no longer feels safe in the family home.
She said: “I’ve lived in Ballyfermot all my life, apart from a few years in the US. I’m devastated to leave our home.
'DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE'
“As a single mother, I’ve worked so hard to make it comfortable for us and to do it up nicely. We’d have to move to another house, which would be a shell.
“I just don’t feel safe here now. I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfortable with the kids being out during the day, never mind when it’s dark. I’ll be living on my nerves.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“I am pregnant too, so I don’t want to bring a new baby back home to this.”
Meanwhile, gardai in Ballyfermot are appealing for witnesses who may not yet have come forward — and, in particular, motorists who may possess dash cam footage from the Ballyfermot Road area between 9.15pm and 10pm on December 30 — to contact them at Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200 or on the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
