Assault could leave teenage girl with life changing injury to her eye

GARDAI are appealing for any witnesses to come forward after an assault on a teenage girl in Ballyfermot that could see her left with potential life changing injuries.

The assault happened on the Ballyfermot Road at around 9.30pm on Thursday night, December 30.

Alanna Quinn Idris (17) was taken to St James’s Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Speaking to RTE, her mother Jamie Quinn said her attackers were initially arguing with her friend, and Alanna intervened to try to help.

“One of them punched her in the face and she fell to the ground. She got back up off the ground again to try help her friend and somebody hit Alanna with something,” said Ms Quinn.

Alana Quinn Idris suffered horrific injuries to her eye during the assault

Alanna suffered a ruptured eyeball, broken cheek bones and damage to her eye socket as a result of the attack.

Ms Quinn said Alanna’s surgery on Friday went well, but things are still very uncertain.

“She got to keep what’s there at the moment but they don’t know … she may need to have her eye removed,” Jamie said.

In a post on Instagram, Alanna said she had tried to maintain a “positive attitude” but was finding it hard to accept “there is an over 90 per cent chance that I won’t be able to see out of my right eye again”.

“Thank you so so much to everyone who’s sent me a message over the past few days. I’ve been absolutely showered with love and support by so many kind hearts,” she said.

Cllr Hazel De Nortúin (PBP) said the community in Ballyfermot is rallying around the family.

“I think the level of violence that happened in this attack is unprecedented. I can see from across the different social media platforms that the whole community has rallied together to condemn such an attack,” said Cllr De Nortúin.

No arrests have been made at this stage of the investigation.

Gardai are also appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time with camera footage including dash-cam to make it available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.