On the first anniversary of the Parnell Square knife attacks, the mum of the girl seriously injured during the incident has said she has to 'relearn being a parent'.
The little girl, who turned six in October, was one of three children attacked outside an Irish-speaking school in Dublin on November 23, 2023, and was left fighting for her life.
One year on, the now-six-year-old remains non-verbal and must be fed through a feeding tube. She's unable to walk and requires constant care.
The mum has now expressed how much their family’s life has changed since the assault. ‘This Saturday marks one year since the incident. I guess calling it an incident is as good a word as any,’ she wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for her daughter.
'Others come to mind, but we don’t wish to remember the tragedy. We choose rebirth, triumph, resilience. So much has happened, and our little girl has endured so much, yet she still manages to bolster a smile, even when crying. Granny says she doesn’t know if she laughs or if she cries.'
The mother said she has had to relearn how to be a parent. ‘It is different parenting altogether. And she has had to relearn being a child, with extreme limitations. She cannot move or communicate as she used to, so she has to understand the meaning of patience. It takes a lot out of her to lift her arms, but she is a warrior and she does it,’ she wrote.
But she believes her daughter understands everything she says to her, despite her injuries. ‘She, like most six-year-olds, chooses what she wishes to acknowledge,’ she said.
She added: ‘She has made great progress, and we don’t wish her to stop. Only time will truly tell. Some people with acquired brain injuries have still shown change and improvement up to ten years later. We’ve got time.'
'It is a lot to take in, for all of those involved, the children, the parents, the school staff. I would like to thank everyone for the love and support over these 12 months. Hug your loved ones extra tight,’ she said.
During the chaos later that night in November, seven vehicles were set alight, including three buses, three Garda patrol cars and a Luas tram. The rioters also extensively damaged eight other Garda cars, attacked and damaged properties, and broke into and looted from several shops.
Several gardaí were targeted and attacked by rioters, leaving one officer hospitalised with serious injuries.
Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Dublin
A total of 57 people have since been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the riots, with 50 individuals charged to date.
On Wednesday, Declan Donaghey, 28, of Williams Place Upper, Dorset Street, Dublin, was jailed for six-and-a-half years for his involvement. He was captured on video throwing a burning box into a patrol car and also attacking a migrant centre housing approximately 50 people.
Ahead of the first anniversary of the riots, Gardaí released pictures of 99 ‘persons of interest’ as part of a public appeal to identify them. Dozens of those have since been identified.
