The sons of a US tourist who was attacked in Dublin have said they 'remain hopeful' their father will recover from the assault.
Mike and Jessie Rizzuto arrived in Dublin on Thursday morning and headed to Beaumont Hospital to see their father Stephen Termini following last week's incident on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street in the city centre.
The two siblings were met by a Garda family liaison officer from Store Street Garda Station who will keep them updated on the investigation into the attack. Three boys have been arrested and charged, and have appeared in court in relation to the assaults.
In a statement, the victim's two sons said they wanted to thank the people of Ireland who have been 'incredibly supportive' throughout the ordeal.
They said: 'We made it to Ireland and we're safe, we got to see our father for a bit today. I don't want to say much more on that topic, because it's day by day, but both of us remain hopeful.
'The people of Ireland have been incredibly supportive and have been trying to help us every step of the way, and we truly could not be more grateful for these people doing everything they can for us. It truly is making this entire process easier and again we could not be more grateful to everyone here.
'Thank you to everyone who made this possible and everyone still helping us out every step.'
Mr Termini sustained life-changing injuries in the attack on Wednesday of last week. He was brought to Beaumont Hospital, which specialises in head trauma.
Breaking: The sons of Stephen Termini, the American tourist who was assaulted in Dublin, have been speaking to @Hanelizaa and say their dad is out of a coma#vmnews pic.twitter.com/MYQ0zO6MkL
— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) July 28, 2023
Mr Termini suffered a fractured eye socket, and doctors are still determining how much lasting brain damage the assault might have caused him.
Speaking to Virgin Media News on Friday, Mr Termini's sons said that their father is now awake and out of his coma but that they still don't know 'what's to come' with his eye and they're taking it 'hour by hour'.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee reiterated on Friday that she is happy to meet with the family. 'I've said I'd be happy to meet with them,' she said when asked about the arrival of Mr Termini's family in Ireland.
'They haven't engaged with me yet. I have spoken to the American ambassador but I haven't spoken to them yet.'
Ms McEntee was speaking at a ceremony for the graduation of 87 gardaà from the Garda College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, as she announced an additional €10million in funding for the force in Dublin.
