Its unlikely that Liverpool fan Sean will walk again
By Hayden Moore
THE WIFE of Seán Cox, the Clondalkin man who suffered life-altering injuries following an unprovoked attack before a Liverpool FC football match last April, has spoken of how his rehabilitation progress has been “extremely slow” up to this point.
Sean sustained a severe head injury when he was struck by a Roma fan before Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final.
Sean Cox with his wife Martina
After almost 18 months of treatment in Ireland, the 53-year-old will undergo a twelve-week rehabilitation programme orientated around the development of his speech and movement.
The father-of-three will begin rehabilitation this week at the specialist neurological facility in the north of England.
Seán and Martina Cox live in Dunboyne, Meath, with renovations about to commence on their home that will see the property adapted to accommodate Seán’s needs.
Giving an update on his condition, Seán’s wife Martina said: “Seán has made progress over the past eighteen months but it is extremely slow.
“He finds it very difficult to express himself verbally and, while it seems he can hear and understand more, his speech remains very challenged.
“It is unlikely that he ever will walk again which is difficult to accept for someone as active as Seán used to be.”
But the Cox family have remained positive, with them being invited to make an “emotional return” to Anfield to watch his beloved Liverpool in October as a guest of the club’s CEO Peter Moore.
“On the positive side, he remains an avid sports fan and is always in a great mood when watching Dublin GAA or Liverpool on the television,” said Martina.
“We are about to start a renovation of our house in Dunboyne which will hopefully be finished by Christmas, making it wheelchair accessible and installing specialist equipment which will mean Seán can spend time in the family home rather than continually being in a hospital environment.
“Being able to bring Seán to England for rehabilitation and, in time, having him spend more time in our adapted home is all privately funded and has been made possible by the generosity of so many people and organisations who took Seán into their hearts.”
The Cox family remain hugely grateful on Seán’s behalf for the ongoing show of support.
The Support Sean campaign have also announced that comedian John Bishop will host a show in the Three Arena in Dublin this January to raise funds for Seán’s future care.
