‘Time has stood still since Shane was attacked’

The parents of a young Tuam man, who suffered a serious brain injury in an unprovoked attack last year, want to bring him home to a familiar environment in the hope that it might lead to his eventual recovery.

But Shane Grogan’s father Joe admitted that ever since that fateful day, time for this heartbroken family has simply stood still.

It has been a nightmare 14 months for the parents of 22 year old Shane, the victim of a horrific late night attack after an enjoyable day out at the Galway Races last year.

It was the call that every parent dreads when Joe and Joan Grogan learned that their son, a fit and healthy young man, had been struck on the head by a concrete object as he and his girlfriend made their way home.

Following the attack, Shane spent a considerable time in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin; he was then admitted to University Hospital Galway and has spent the past three months in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire.

Now Joe and Joan want to bring him home and intend to convert part of their town centre property into an apartment where he can be cared for on a round-the-clock basis.

Shane’s plight has touched the hearts of the local community who have been organising fundraising events to raise money so that he can be cared for at home.

Joe Grogan explained that if he showed some recovery, then they might be able to look after him at home on full-time, but initially they will bring him home for a few hours on a regular basis in the hope that it might “trigger something”.

Shane’s father will never forget the day of the incident. Shane had gone to the Galway Races, had four winners, was delighted with his day and they met for a couple of pints that night.

Shane and his girlfriend went off and the next thing Joe knew was that the phone started ringing at around three in the morning.

See the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.