This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22431310
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Derry petrol bomb attack victim's family 'devastated' | Derry petrol bomb attack victim's family 'devastated' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The family of a man set on fire in a petrol bomb attack in Londonderry have said they fear he will not recover from his injuries. | The family of a man set on fire in a petrol bomb attack in Londonderry have said they fear he will not recover from his injuries. |
Thomas Curry sustained 40% burns to his body after his home in Benvarden Avenue was attacked on Friday night. | Thomas Curry sustained 40% burns to his body after his home in Benvarden Avenue was attacked on Friday night. |
Three men and a woman arrested in connection with the incident have been released on bail. | Three men and a woman arrested in connection with the incident have been released on bail. |
The victim's brother Patrick said he was devastated by the extent of the injuries. | The victim's brother Patrick said he was devastated by the extent of the injuries. |
"We didn't really know until we got into the hospital and they let us in to see Thomas and we saw then the extent of the burns," he said. | |
"It was unreal to see him lying there the way he was, sort of unrecognizable. It's very upsetting. He's very seriously ill, he's fighting for his life in the Royal Victoria." | "It was unreal to see him lying there the way he was, sort of unrecognizable. It's very upsetting. He's very seriously ill, he's fighting for his life in the Royal Victoria." |
Two attackers broke a window and threw the petrol bomb at Mr Curry's home at around 23:10 BST on Friday. | |
Mr Curry was rescued from the house by two neighbours. | Mr Curry was rescued from the house by two neighbours. |
Thomas' younger sister Christine said it was "awful" to see his injuries. | Thomas' younger sister Christine said it was "awful" to see his injuries. |
"You don't even recognize him, you wouldn't think he was your brother," she said. | "You don't even recognize him, you wouldn't think he was your brother," she said. |
"If you're looking at him it's awful. His head and his face and his neck are all burnt, his arms and his hands. He can't even open his eyes, they're all swollen." | "If you're looking at him it's awful. His head and his face and his neck are all burnt, his arms and his hands. He can't even open his eyes, they're all swollen." |
'A gentleman' | 'A gentleman' |
Another sister, Noreen Duffy, said it was "hard to take" that somebody could have inflicted such injuries on her brother. | Another sister, Noreen Duffy, said it was "hard to take" that somebody could have inflicted such injuries on her brother. |
"He looks like a complete stranger with the swelling and the extent of the damage he's got to his body," she said. | "He looks like a complete stranger with the swelling and the extent of the damage he's got to his body," she said. |
"I was standing looking at him yesterday and I was thinking when he comes around, if he comes around, he's going to have a lot to cope with. He's going to have to accept his face. He'll probably have to get skin grafts, there's that much burning to his body." | "I was standing looking at him yesterday and I was thinking when he comes around, if he comes around, he's going to have a lot to cope with. He's going to have to accept his face. He'll probably have to get skin grafts, there's that much burning to his body." |
Noreen described Thomas as "very timid". | Noreen described Thomas as "very timid". |
"He's the sort you'd have to speak to him first, he's that shy. He's a very shy person, he's a gentleman, he wouldn't harm anybody," she said. | "He's the sort you'd have to speak to him first, he's that shy. He's a very shy person, he's a gentleman, he wouldn't harm anybody," she said. |
Philomena Dinsmore echoed her sister's comments. | Philomena Dinsmore echoed her sister's comments. |
"He was that soft and kind-hearted, it's very difficult for our family," she said. | "He was that soft and kind-hearted, it's very difficult for our family," she said. |
"I can't understand it, he's a gentleman, he wouldn't do anybody any harm that's why I'm so shocked and angry at it." | "I can't understand it, he's a gentleman, he wouldn't do anybody any harm that's why I'm so shocked and angry at it." |
Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. Chief inspector Jon Burrows said officers are looking at mistaken identity as one line of inquiry for the attack. | |
"Certainly that is one line of inquiry, because Mr Curry is entirely innocent and of course we're keen to hear what the motive for this was," he said | |
"No motivation, no background, justifies the action that was taken, but it would help us make sense of it, it would help our investigators make progress. | "No motivation, no background, justifies the action that was taken, but it would help us make sense of it, it would help our investigators make progress. |
"I can reassure the public that our most senior detectives are investigating this, but we're still very early in the investigation and I need the community to give us the information about who did this." | "I can reassure the public that our most senior detectives are investigating this, but we're still very early in the investigation and I need the community to give us the information about who did this." |
Previous version
1
Next version