THE FAMILY OF a young woman who sustained serious injuries while walking home to her student accommodation in Maynooth, Co Kildare have thanked their local community and the general public for their continued support at a “tough and trying” time.
18-year-old Kym Owens was found at Moyglare Abbey on 20 November, having travelled on the A2B bus service from her family home in Monaghan. She suffered a broken nose, fractured eye sockets, a dislocated jaw as well as a number of broken teeth but gardaí have not established how she sustained the injuries.
It was initially believed the young woman had been assaulted, but gardaí are also exploring the possibility that she may have fallen or been struck by a vehicle.
Thomas McNee, Kym’s uncle, told RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke that her parents are keeping a bedside vigil with her every day. Staff at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where the 18-year-old remains in an induced coma, are “doing everything they can for her”, he said.
“She was fun and bubbly, and loved her sport – she played Gaelic football for the Blaney Faughs,” McNee said of his niece, adding that she was “the baby” of the family.
She was just weeks into her college education and was “settling in nicely” when she sustained her horrific injuries.
Appeal
“You never expect it to come to your own door,” he told reporter Brian O’Connell at a fundraising concert in Kym’s home town of Castleblaney last night. “It’s been very tough and trying on the family.”
Their lives have just been turned upside down in a heartbeat.
McNee said “Christmas was cancelled” this year in the Owens house.
He said the family wished to express their “sincerest and deepest thank you” to people who sent well wishes and to everyone who contributed to the recovery fund.
Kym’s uncle also appealed for anyone with any information about what happened to his niece to contact gardaí, no matter how small the detail.
“I would say examine your conscience – that could be your daughter or sister lying in that hospital bed. Take the leap of faith and go to the gardaí and tell them anything you know.”
Gardaí are asking anyone who was in the Moyglare Abbey area on 20 November between 7pm and 9pm, or anyone who believes they have information that could help the investigation, to contact them.
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