Northern Ireland

Mother 'prays for a miracle' for daughter after vicious assault

 Joleen Carr in her hospital bed with her mother Carol by her side
 Joleen Carr in her hospital bed with her mother Carol by her side  Joleen Carr in her hospital bed with her mother Carol by her side

A WEST Belfast woman continues to fight for her life four months after a violent assault left her with a severe brain injury.

Joleen Corr (26) has been unconscious since the attack in her new home in Downpatrick on December 1.

Her mother Carol Corr has asked for prayers to give her family "strength and a wee bit of hope".

Mrs Corr said she and her family had been "destroyed" by the attack on Joleen.

The mother-of-one, who is originally from the Beechmount area, was set upon in her new home late in the evening.

The attack left the beautician with a severe brain injury, a broken jaw, 49 bruises all over her body, facial injuries and an ear injury.

A man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the assault on the 26-year-old.

Since the attack, Joleen has not regained consciousness and almost four months on, remains on a neurological ward in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Doctors have told her devastated parents that it is unlikely that the young woman will recover.

Her mother, Carol said it has been a heartbreaking journey since December.

"I don't know myself what the outcome is going to be. Even though the doctors have told me, I'm hoping for a miracle," she said.

"The consultant called an emergency meeting four weeks ago. He told us that the left side of Joleen's brain is dead. The stem of the brain is damaged. She is on oxygen 24/7.

"The doctors have said she is there in body but they don't think she is going to make a recovery. She has no quality of life. They have done everything".

The mother-of-five said she, Joleen's dad and her sisters and brother remain by her bedside talking to her and holding her hand.

"We go up every day and it breaks our hearts," she said.

"I go up every day with new pyjamas. I do her eyebrows and (put) coloured go-gos and bows in her hair. Everybody is praying. I have at least a box and three bags of medals, rosary beads, holy cards and small cards with wee sayings.

"We talk to her and cleanse her face and comb her hair. I put cream on her hands and feet and play music".

The Beechmount mother said prior to the assault, her daughter - a former pupil of St Rose's Dominican College - "used to light up the room".

"She was amazing," she said.

"She loved a good old chat. She loved music, dancing and singing. She would have been the life and soul of the party. She loved her family. She idolised her wee boy. That was her life. She used to say `Thank God I have him'."

Carol said her daughter had been preparing for Christmas, just before she was attacked, and was looking forward to spending the festive period with her family and little boy, with whom she had bought a puppy.

"This has tore us apart," she said.

"I can honestly say I have a broken heart, Part of my heart is away now because Joleen was part of my heart. It has destroyed us.

"I just know our lives will never be the same without Joleen. I wish she was sitting here talking to me."

She added: "I would just say keep Joleen in your prayers, that God makes the right decision for her. God’s will be done.

"Knowing people are praying for Joleen and praying for us, it gives us strength and a wee bit of hope as well."

**A fundraiser for Joleen Corr will take place at The West Club on Falls Road on April 7 at 8pm.