Thugs on Trial for Burning Kids

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Irish Voice News

Thugs on Trial for Burning Kids

September 28, 2007

By Paddy Clancy

SEVEN-year-old Millie Murray and her five-year-old brother Gavin were turned into human fireballs when their mother refused to give a lift in her car to vengeful teenagers in their home city Limerick.

The youngsters were in the back of the car when the thugs hurled a blazing petrol bomb into it.

Millie and Gavin were lucky to survive. But they have been scarred for the rest of their lives. Millie suffered 30% burning to her face, right arm, right thigh and lower back. Gavin suffered 25% burns to his face, head, back and hands.

The attack a year ago shocked all Ireland, but the full depth of pain and suffering for the youngsters and their family only became apparent this week when their mother Sheila read a moving victim impact report to Limerick Circuit Court.

She said her life changed completely on September 10 last year when Millie and Gavin, two of her eight children, were badly burned by the petrol bomb thrown into her car.

“Myself and my children did nothing wrong for this to happen only I refused someone a lift to the courthouse. I left my friend’s house with my children and next thing my car was in flames,” Sheila said.

“I got out and pulled my daughter Millie out of the car and was shouting for help for Gavin. I couldn’t even see Gavin in the car when I got Millie out because of thick black smoke. I could only see smoke and flames.

“I don’t think that I will ever get rid of the guilt that I couldn’t get Gavin out with Millie. He might not have been burned so badly if I were able to get to him.”

Her impact statement went on to recount how she sat in the back of a police car accompanying the ambulance taking Millie 140 miles to a Dublin hospital for specialist treatment while Gavin, too ill to travel, had to be left behind in intensive care in the local hospital.

She described how she sat up with one child in the Dublin hospital while constantly making inquiries about the other in Limerick during the first crucial 48 hours. Eventually Gavin was also moved to the Dublin establishment, Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

“I watched Millie and Gavin going through intensive burns treatment every day. When they were coming out of sedation they were in terrible pain but I had to be there to support them along with the medical staff. Most of the time I had to leave the room because I couldn’t stand to watch them anymore,” Sheila said.

She said the children, who were now home, had undergone many operations, but she has been told they will need many more treatments, including skin grafts and more treatment to one of Gavin’s ears which melted in the blaze.

“I have to sit up most nights with Gavin as he gets bad nightmares. They are both frightened to sleep on their own so they sleep with me,” Sheila said.

Also, since the attack the family had to move house.

“Our lives will never be the same again. Millie and Gavin will never get their full health back. They are scarred for the rest of their lives,” Sheila said.

Two 18-year-old youths have admitted intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Millie and Gavin. A third youth, aged 17, had admitted endangering the lives of the two children.

All three, who apologized through their lawyers, remained silent, bowed their heads and wept as Murray read her statement.

Judge Carroll Moran described the case as tragic and said he could not make an instant decision on punishment. He deferred sentence for two weeks.

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