Two young children who suffered horrific burns to more than 20 per cent of their bodies when the car they were sitting in was petrol bombed will be disfigured for the rest of their lives, a court has heard.
Milly and Gavin Murray's mother Sheila gave an emotional victim impact statement at Limerick Circuit Court, and told how her children have to sleep with her every night as they are too frightened to sleep on their own.
She said her entire family was undergoing counselling and every time she looked at her scarred children she thought of the day her life was "turned upside down".
Ms Murray was speaking at the sentencing hearing of three teenagers charged in connection with the incident a year ago.
Milly and Gavin were just six and four years old when the attack took place on a Sunday afternoon when their mother was visiting a friend's house. Both children have undergone extensive surgery and skin grafts.
Sentencing in the case of the three teenagers charged in connection with the attack was adjourned for two weeks after Judge Carroll Moran heard almost four hours of evidence.
Appearing before the court were John O'Donoghue, (18), Pineview Gardens, Moyross; John Mitchell, (18), Delmege Park, Moyross; and Robert Sheehan, (17), Pineview Gardens, Moyross. Mr O'Donoghue and Mr Mitchell have both pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Milly and Gavin at Pineview Gardens on September 10th, 2006.
Mr Sheehan has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injury on the same date.
Evidence was heard of how Mr O'Donoghue filled a Lucozade bottle with petrol before igniting it and throwing it at the car.
The court heard Mr Mitchell held the bottle for his co-accused while he filled it from a gallon drum of petrol and stuffed paper in the top to act as a fuse. Counsel for the State John O'Sullivan said the prosecution accepted the accused did not know the children were in the car when the petrol bomb was thrown.
The court heard that Sheila Murray had earlier refused to give John O'Donoghue and Robert Sheehan a lift to a special court sitting and gardaí believe her car was attacked as a reprisal.
Judge Moran described the case as "very tragic and very serious" and said he could not make an immediate decision.
He adjourned sentencing in the matter until October 12th next.