Young Nigerian footballer Tega Agberhiere, 17, has been left fighting for his eyesight after him and his friends were targeted in an attack by youths.
Mum Christie said her son cried out in pain after a corrosive substance, believed to be acid, was thrown on him and shocking images show the horrific injuries he suffered to his face and eyes. Two of his friends, one named as footballer Padraig Sullivan, also required medical attention for burns and were taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment. Tega, who has played for the Republic of Ireland at youth level, has since been transferred to Cork University Hospital for treatment at a specialised burns unit.
Padraig suffered serious burns to his legs, while the third victim has wounds on his back.
Four teenage boys were arrested on Saturday by gardai investigating the alleged incidents. They were questioned at Waterford gardai station and later released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director for Public Prosecutions. Ms Agberhiere said her son is receiving treatment after suffering burns to his eyes and face. She told Waterford radio station WLR: ‘He’s getting better but he’s still in the hospital.
‘I feel like the whole world is on top of me. I feel very angry and feel beaten up. It’s hard to explain. Why my son? Why him? ‘He’s in so much pain, he was crying because it was down all of his face.’
Padraig’s dad told the Irish Mirror:
‘He has a big burn on his thigh and that burnt all the nerves away and it’s after blocking off the veins, so we have to wait three weeks for that to come back to life. ‘And when that comes back to life then they’ll do the skin graft. My lad was playing hurling for Waterford.’ Irish Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said the incident was a ‘scurrilous attack’.
Gardai have appealed for witnesses, particularly anyone who was in the Earlscourt area at the time of the incident. News presenter Simon McCoy has had enough of BBC’s pawful puns A spokesperson for the police said: ‘Four youths have been arrested by Gardai investigating alleged incident of assault and violent disorder in Waterford city on Thursday April 25. ‘At approximately 11pm a number of youths were involved in a serious altercation at Earlscourt, Waterford. ‘It’s understood a corrosive substance was used in the incident.’
