A fundraiser has been launched by the family of a Cork man who lost an eye in a "senseless" acid attack that happened at his home.
Francis Costello suffered “life altering” injuries when John Paul Carey, his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, arrived at his front door and threw a corrosive liquid in his face in March 2022.
Francis lost an eye in the incident and also sustained chemical burns to his face and scalp as well as suffering mentally and emotionally in the wake of the attack.
John Paul Carey was yesterday jailed for nine and a half years after he pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Costello said that that prior to the attack he was an “outgoing confident person” but after the attack he "lost the will to live".
The former retail worker said he had lost his job after the attack which also brought “huge financial stress.”
His brother Roy Costello launched the fundraiser, with a target of €10,000, following the court case to help pay for his brother's ongoing treatment, including operations on his eye socket and hopefully, a prosthetic eye.
In the GoFundMe description, he wrote: "My name is Roy Costello. I am starting this gofundme for my brother Francis Costello.
"We were at our family home back in March 2022 when somebody came to our door and threw a corrosive fluid in Francis's face causing burns to his face and head and eye.
"Francis has already been through countless visits to hospital in Cork to try to save his eye and travelled to Dublin on a number of occasions to meet with specialists with the hope of getting a prosthetic eye when all attempts to save his eye failed and it had to be removed.
"My brother initially spent 10 days in hospital where he underwent plastic surgery on his face and head. He was sent home on morphine and was basically helpless. It was another 2 weeks after he came home that the doctors took him off the morphine and reality set in.
"This attack took from my brother in every way. He was left physically, emotionally and mentally scarred and it took him a long time to be able to deal with what has happened to him.
"Francis still has a long road ahead of him. He has been told his eye socket is damaged so badly that a prosthetic eye might not be possible. He will be travelling to Dublin for operations in the hope that they can repair it enough so he can get his prosthetic eye and be somewhat happier with how he looks after the attack.
"With medical, travel and living expenses mounting up friends and neighbours told me I should make this gofundme in the hope to help Francis get his health and life back. Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you."
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that shortly after 8pm on March 4, 2022, Francis Costello answered a call to his door at Connolly Road in Ballyphehane on the southside of Cork city.
When he opened the door he was confronted by Mr Carey whom he recognised as being the relatively new partner of his ex girlfriend of many years. Det Inspector Lynch said Carey threw a corrosive liquid in the face of 40 year old Francis Costello.
He told Judge James McCourt that Francis Costello was overcome with pain and dropped to the ground. Detective Inspector Lynch said that John Paul Carey stood over the victim and then started to punch him.
“Francis Costello fell to the floor in severe pain. Carey assaulted him as he lay prone on the ground. His brothers Roy and John (who were in the house) came to his assistance.”
When the Costello brothers came to the door having heard the commotion Mr Carey also doused them with the liquid.
Francis' two brothers, John and Roy Costello, also suffered chemical burns in the attack. John has lost 10% of vision in his right eye and 20% in his left eye from the incident. Roy received chemical burns to his forearms and arms in the attack.
If you wish to donate to the GoFundMe the link is here.
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