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THE FAMILY OF a young woman who sustained serious injuries while walking home to her student accommodation in Maynooth, Co Kildare have thanked their local community and the general public for their continued support at a “tough and trying” time.
18-year-old Kym Owens was found at Moyglare Abbey on 20 November, having travelled on the A2B bus service from her family home in Monaghan. She suffered a broken nose, fractured eye sockets, a dislocated jaw as well as a number of broken teeth but gardaí have not established how she sustained the injuries.
It was initially believed the young woman had been assaulted, but gardaí are also exploring the possibility that she may have fallen or been struck by a vehicle.
Thomas McNee, Kym’s uncle, told RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke that her parents are keeping a bedside vigil with her every day. Staff at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where the 18-year-old remains in an induced coma, are “doing everything they can for her”, he said.
“She was fun and bubbly, and loved her sport – she played Gaelic football for the Blaney Faughs,” McNee said of his niece, adding that she was “the baby” of the family.
She was just weeks into her college education and was “settling in nicely” when she sustained her horrific injuries.
Appeal
“You never expect it to come to your own door,” he told reporter Brian O’Connell at a fundraising concert in Kym’s home town of Castleblaney last night. “It’s been very tough and trying on the family.”
Their lives have just been turned upside down in a heartbeat.
McNee said “Christmas was cancelled” this year in the Owens house.
He said the family wished to express their “sincerest and deepest thank you” to people who sent well wishes and to everyone who contributed to the recovery fund.
Kym’s uncle also appealed for anyone with any information about what happened to his niece to contact gardaí, no matter how small the detail.
“I would say examine your conscience – that could be your daughter or sister lying in that hospital bed. Take the leap of faith and go to the gardaí and tell them anything you know.”
Gardaí are asking anyone who was in the Moyglare Abbey area on 20 November between 7pm and 9pm, or anyone who believes they have information that could help the investigation, to contact them.
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My grandfather was in good company so, same unit as Leo!
@winston smith: chip off the old block?
I’d say your Grandfather wasn’t happy calling you after churchill so.
And there’s me thinking I was named after Winnie the Pooh…how could they!
Oriel House is a great story yet to be brought to the wider public! Pseudo intelligence unit doing the Free State Cabinets unsavoury work.
@Paul Maher: would now be known as a murder gang, only this was being done by the so called government.
@Larry Doherty: the so called goverment…… Did they the anti treaty side ever become the goverment or is it still the so called goverment 90 give or take years on
@Paul Maher:
GHQ Intelligence Squad, formed 1919, were based in Abbey Street.
GHQ Intelligence Office were based in Crowe Street.
Dublin Brigade ASU, formed in 1920, we’re based in Strand Street.
The Dublin Guard were based in Celbridge and later Beggars Bush.
Military Intelligence & CID were based in Oriel House – A common mistake made over the years by republicans is to say the Squad ended up being the murder gang in Oriel House. The funny thing is very few of the Squad had connections with Oriel House – only Paddy ‘Specky’ Griffin‘s name has been associated with the place in its early days. Nevertheless, it’s widely known that torture was used in Oriel House and men were murdered by members of the CID. Equally men were murdered and tortured by Dev’s men. It was a brutal Civil War.
Sure wasn’t the bold IRA more than a million brave men and women strong.. or was it two million??
Nice chips but at €3.50 …. They are a bit pricey
@Shane Freeney:
I agree too pricey and not the best in dublin golden chip in phibs way better
Smells fishy ! But great non the less.
When the chips are down, Burdocks is yer only man!
Documents have name listed as Liam Burdock social welfare fraud alive and well way back then.
@TonyF: his father was Patrick and his mother was Bella so who is Liam?
What a man!
Oriel House would make a great book if any historian got around to writing it.
Those in there lost the run of themselves after the death of Collins and were worse than the tans…
The DUP are now calling for immediate closure and decommissioning of all Leo burdocks premises before peace talks can recommence….
Have to visit next time I’m in the big smoke.
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