Family’s ‘rough’ Christmas vigil at Joleen’s bedside

Family’s ‘rough’ Christmas vigil at Joleen’s bedside

11 January 2017

THE family of a woman who was left in a coma after a brutal attack at her home in Downpatrick early last month have told how they spent the Christmas holidays at her hospital bedside.

Joleen Corr (26), who is the mother of a two year-old boy, was viciously assaulted at her Thomas Russell Park home on December 2.

A 30-year-old man, Michael O’Connor, has been charged with her attempted murder. The PSNI confirmed on Monday that inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Joleen’s mum, Carol, described Christmas as “pretty rough” for the family which has kept a vigil at the young mum’s bedside at the Royal Victoria Hospital’s intensive care unit since she was injured in the attack.

“I spent Christmas Eve with my two youngest children at home so Santa could come, but then we headed straight to the Royal Hospital to spend the day with Joleen,” Carol explained.

Boxing Day was also Carol’s birthday and she felt it was important to celebrate it for Joleen.

She continued: “One of my daughters brought in a cake and candles. We all sang songs to Joleen. I sang Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle; Joleen and I would have sung that together when my own mummy was alive.

“I felt it was important to sing it to her even if I don’t know if she can hear me. It was a special moment even though we’re all hurting and want Joleen to come round.”

Carol also revealed that five weeks after her daughter was attacked, there has still been no sign of improvement.

“There’s been no change, her injuries are very severe. It’s heartbreaking for us to watch her lifeless,” she continued, describing Joleen as a “very happy-go-lucky wee girl.”

Carol continued: “We had a close relationship where me, her and her wee son James went out shopping while my younger children were at school. We would go and have a pamper day, get our hair done and then back to my house for lunch. My other children would always be excited when she was coming up.”

Joleen had stayed with her mother in Belfast for a week before her attack on December 2.

“She had picked up a wee pup for her boy, James, for Christmas,” said Carol. “When she left to get the bus to Downpatrick that morning [December 1], I hugged and kissed her and told her I loved her and said I’ll be on the phone to you soon.”

The following afternoon, Carol was told her daughter was seriously hurt.

”As soon as I heard the news I went into shock, my heart was beating a mile a minute, I was screaming and was saying, ‘Please God let my child be okay’. I knew in my heart something was seriously wrong,” she said.

Carol revealed she got “the shock of her life” when she saw her daughter in hospital and described her as “unrecognisable”. 

She continued: “I almost collapsed and ran the other direction; I couldn’t believe my wee girl was like that. Being a mother and seeing my daughter lying there, she may be 26, but she’s still my baby.

“Joleen is such a good-hearted wee girl. She was never out to hurt anyone and all she wanted was a wee bit of happiness with her little son.”

“The nurses had her looking beautiful so she just looked like she was sleeping. “I had toys waiting at the bottom of her bed to take his mind off his mummy.

“I said to him, ‘your mummy’s a sleepy head and she’s got a sore throat.’ He just looked at me and I said, ‘look at all the things your mummy has got you’. He saw a picture above the bed of Joleen and him with Santa the week before she was hurt. I lifted him up and he gave his mum a kiss. It was sad but I held strong for Joleen.”

Carol added: “It’s hard for me; you want to believe the opposite. God has given me strength as has my mother who passed on before us. We’re over there day and night. It’s just a nightmare you want to wake up from.”