'Life as I knew it came to an end'

TEEN LEFT BLINDED IN ONE EYE TELLS OF ATTACK'S IMPACT

- JESSICA MAGEE

AN 18-year-old woman who was blinded in one eye in what a court heard was an "organised attack" has told how her chance of having a normal life has been destroyed.

Alanna Quinn Idris took to the stand at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday to outline the ongoing impact on her life of the attack on December 30, 2021.

Darragh Lyons, 19, of Weir View, Glenaulin, Chapelizod, will be sentenced today after he pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder at Ballyfermot Road on the night in question.

Lyons further admitted assaulting causing harm to Ms Quinn Idris' friend Louis O'Sullivan during the same attack which took place a short time after a brief verbal dispute at a bus stop.

The court heard there had been "abusive and loutish behaviour" by Lyons' co-accused towards both victims on the bus." Two other men are facing trial in relation to the attack and cannot be named.

Reading from her victim impact statement Ms Quinn Idris said the life she was supposed to live was taken away from her before she turned 18.

She said: "Life as I knew it came to an abrupt end. I will never be the woman I was supposed to be she died that night. Sometimes I wish I never woke up from when I was hit with that object."

The court heard Ms Quinn Idris was knocked unconscious after she was hit in the side of the face with the saddle of an electric scooter wielded by another person.

Lyons did not wield any weapon in the attack but he punched Ms Quinn Idris on the side of her face and was also involved in punching and kicking Mr O'Sullivan.