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Paul was the victim of a heartless, violent attack at his local park last month ... Look at him now

Some good news…

YOU MAY RECALL reading, last month, the story of what happened to Paul Deaton, during a visit to his local park in north Dublin.

The 31-year-old, who has intellectual disabilities, was left with serious head injuries after being set-upon by a gang of young men.

He had gone to Fairview Park to look at JCBs.

Paul’s sister Linda she said a passer-by brought him to a local pharmacy after the attack as there was “blood everywhere”.

His assailants threatened to rape him, kill him and set him on fire. And witnesses to the incident said members of the gang had recorded the attack on their phones, while laughing.

He left the house without telling anyone, Linda said – adding that he “loves” to watch JCBs.

“That’s his hobby.”

paul-deaton-310x415 Paul, in the wake of the attack. Facebook Facebook

How is he getting on now?

Well, you’ll be pleased to hear he’s doing well.

Paul and his mother Dorothy were invited to the headquarters of ECI JCB yesterday, and spent the day getting a guided tour of the latest models.

His sister, Linda, was on Anton Savage’s Today FM show this morning – and told the host:

He had an amazing day; his confidence is a lot better. He got to drive the diggers, he got a few surprises off them, he got clothes, he got key rings, they did an amazing thing.

jcb Today FM Today FM

Paul had been too traumatised to leave the house after the attack – despite his love for the outdoors, Linda told the show.

However:

“It’s actually after building up his confidence a lot, everything that’s been going on, especially with JCB now, he’s just thrilled with that, we won’t hear the end of it!”

They even gave him a key to a JCB, and he thought he could use it in any JCB whenever he wanted. But I had to explain to him that it’s just a gift for him to have.

The Today FM programme was inundated with offers of trips in JCBs and diggers in the wake of Linda’s first appearance, last month, Savage said.

Read: Attackers ‘threatened to rape man with special needs and set him on fire’

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31 Comments
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    Mute Mr T
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    May 26th 2015, 1:30 PM

    The good side of people

    999
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    May 26th 2015, 2:19 PM

    And fair play to jcb too…

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    May 26th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Be nice if he could drive the JCB over the people who attacked him, whilst screaming ‘Rape this!’. But this is a good second best. Well done JCB

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    Mute Shane Walsh
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    May 26th 2015, 1:37 PM

    Brilliant, now I hope the people behind this attack are caught and dealt with.

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    Mute Larry K
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    May 26th 2015, 2:00 PM

    Dealt with using a JCB!!

    227
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    Mute Brian Corcoran
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    May 26th 2015, 1:35 PM

    This brought a smile to my face

    421
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    Mute Tony
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    May 26th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Well done eci/jcb
    Great news story

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    Mute Niall
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    May 26th 2015, 1:40 PM

    Good stuff. Any update on whether these thugs have been identified/charged etc ?

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    Mute james sullivan
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    May 26th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Fantastic news .Good for him.

    233
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    Mute Fred Magoo
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    May 26th 2015, 1:45 PM

    Well done JCB.. he will have more memories of the day he spent with you than what happened to him in the park.

    203
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    Mute Deputydawg
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    May 26th 2015, 2:19 PM

    Good people of Ireland, let me explain exactly what will happen the dirt responsible for assaulting this man if they are caught and dealt with.
    They will be minded and mollycoddled by Inspector of prisons who has formed the opinion that they are just misunderstood unfortunates who just don’t understand the ramifications of their actions on their victim.
    They will be given top quality medical and dental care, top class education,
    No action will be taken to get them to address their behaviour. If a prison officer says no to them they will at the insistence of prison management issue a complaint against the officer. Etc etc etc.
    Will they make use of the facilities given to them to address their criminality, short answer is no.
    They will spend their time trying to get drugs. Mobile phones into the prison, they will bully more vulnerable prisoners. Their bad behaviour will be reported to the management who will do nothing to sanction them, in fact, if they become a problem for management, they may possibly be given money,your money to buy themselves cake and fizzy drinks.
    When they’re released, they come out thinking that we owe them, because they have issues etc.
    So maybe we are better off as a society if they are found dead up a laneway due to an overdose.

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    Mute conor lenehan
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    May 26th 2015, 7:49 PM

    You absolute f . . . .ng moron.

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    Mute successisurs
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    May 26th 2015, 1:47 PM

    The individuals should be put into a hole and a public well traveled space then let Paul fill the hole in… with a jcb of course. Leave them there for a few hours whilst recording them and their pitiful screams.

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    Mute Franco
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    May 26th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Have the s**m not been caught.

    114
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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    May 26th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Nicely done JCB. Help the dude out and nail a marketing opp at the same time. Free advertising everywhere and a happy guy. Win win situation.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 26th 2015, 1:58 PM

    Well done Niall, you stick it to the man for doing the right thing. Good job. You’re the real hero in this story

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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 26th 2015, 2:16 PM

    Yeah it’s a shrewd move by JCB to corner the market on JCBs (an area in which they had been lagging hitherto)

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    Mute Pat Cassano
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    May 26th 2015, 2:20 PM

    Thanks Niall, I was just about to spend 50 grand on a new JCB until you showed us the truth…

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    Mute Live Long
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    May 26th 2015, 4:03 PM

    My estimation of JCB has just gone down now Niall has opened my eyes

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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    May 26th 2015, 5:36 PM

    Did anyone see a JCB ad in the news, in Ireland, ever before? No? I didn’t think so. Now a whole thread talking about it. PR/Marketing job done well.

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    Mute Brendan Crowe
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    May 26th 2015, 1:56 PM

    sound, nice story :)

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    Mute Castalla Villas
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    May 26th 2015, 2:23 PM

    I’m sure those animals have shared the video footage with a third party that has backbone to pass on thire names to the guards

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    Mute Neil bradwell
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    May 26th 2015, 2:27 PM

    That is absolutely brilliant news, delighted for him, can see him now chasing after those scroats In his own jcb with pointed forks on the end:)

    52
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    Mute Philip Murphy
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    May 26th 2015, 2:58 PM

    Heartwarming end, and so many nice supporting comments…mostly all getting a single thumbs down. A cowardly pathetic little act, not unlike the original attack on this vulnerable chap.

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    Mute Richard Carroll
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    May 26th 2015, 3:31 PM

    ECI JCB fair play.

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    Mute Ben Hemmens
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    May 26th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Not sure it’s clever to mess with a guy who like driving JCBs … especially if you live in a house.

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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    May 26th 2015, 4:35 PM

    Good lad I’m glad he’s on the mend .

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    Mute Baldy Brian
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    May 26th 2015, 5:35 PM

    Well done staff at ECI

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    Mute Steve
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    May 26th 2015, 7:14 PM

    An article like this makes be proud to belong to the decent part of society

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    Mute brid buckley
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    May 26th 2015, 7:08 PM

    We’ll done JCB, you deserve the publicity for taking the time and trouble to give Brian a day to remember. Many others would have been all talk and no action

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    Mute Lily
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    May 26th 2015, 6:13 PM

    Such a heartwarming story.

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