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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| NI woman critical after US attack | NI woman critical after US attack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 23-year-old woman from south Armagh remains in a critical but stable condition in Chicago after she was beaten with an aluminium baseball bat. | |
| Natasha McShane, who is from Silverbridge, had been studying at the University of Illinois in Chicago. | Natasha McShane, who is from Silverbridge, had been studying at the University of Illinois in Chicago. |
| Ms McShane and a female friend were attacked on Friday at 0330 local time on their way home from a night out. | |
| Natasha's grandmother said she was disgusted by the attack on a "great girl who always aimed high". | Natasha's grandmother said she was disgusted by the attack on a "great girl who always aimed high". |
| Bernadette McShane said her granddaughter had had an operation on Friday but that her condition remained the same. | Bernadette McShane said her granddaughter had had an operation on Friday but that her condition remained the same. |
| "She is still critical but stable," she said. | "She is still critical but stable," she said. |
| "Her mother and father (Liam and Sheila McShane) are with her and also my eldest daughter, her father's sister, Natasha's aunt. They really cannot tell us how things are. It is just early days. But at least she is stable." | |
| She is receiving treatment at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. | She is receiving treatment at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. |
| The two women had been out for the evening to celebrate after Natasha got her degree. | The two women had been out for the evening to celebrate after Natasha got her degree. |
| They were making their way home through the Bucktown district when the attack happened. | They were making their way home through the Bucktown district when the attack happened. |
| Aluminium bat | Aluminium bat |
| It is understood the attacker struck both women with the aluminium bat before stealing their purses and running away. | It is understood the attacker struck both women with the aluminium bat before stealing their purses and running away. |
| Natasha was struck over the head two or three times. | Natasha was struck over the head two or three times. |
| Natasha's grandmother said that she understood her daughter's friend, named in the local press as Stacy Jurich, was not as badly hurt and managed to flag down a passing taxi to come to their aid. | Natasha's grandmother said that she understood her daughter's friend, named in the local press as Stacy Jurich, was not as badly hurt and managed to flag down a passing taxi to come to their aid. |
| Police in Chicago said the attack was being investigated. So far, no-one has been arrested. | Police in Chicago said the attack was being investigated. So far, no-one has been arrested. |
| Natasha McShane did her primary degree at Queen's University, Belfast before going on to do a postgraduate course at University College, Dublin. | Natasha McShane did her primary degree at Queen's University, Belfast before going on to do a postgraduate course at University College, Dublin. |
| Since January, she has been on an exchange programme, studying urban planning at the University of Illinois, where a spokesman said their thoughts are with her and her family. | Since January, she has been on an exchange programme, studying urban planning at the University of Illinois, where a spokesman said their thoughts are with her and her family. |
| The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the McShane family. | The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the McShane family. |
| A spokesman for the University of Illinois in Chicago confirmed Ms McShane is a graduate student at the university's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and had been studying there since January. | A spokesman for the University of Illinois in Chicago confirmed Ms McShane is a graduate student at the university's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and had been studying there since January. |